Ever wonder how you can support your child’s growth outside of what you already do? Something to help elevate their development is engaging them in activities that allow for both sides of their brain to communicate by crossing midline!
What is Crossing Midline?
Midline is an imaginary line that runs up and down through the center of our body, dividing it into right and left sides. Crossing midline means moving our eyes, hands or feet across that line. This skill allows for both sides of our brain to communicate effectively for everyday activities.
This spring we want your children to feel supported as they finish up the school year and a great way to do that is to incorporate activities that encourage them to cross midline! These activities can be completed inside or outside!
Home Activities to Encourage Crossing Midline Visually & Physically
Infinity
- Draw a large infinity sign with chalk on the driveway, sidewalk or a fence
- Have your child trace it with one hand without moving their feet
- Have them use a toy car to ‘drive’ on it the same way they would use their finger
- Encourage them to follow their movement with their eyes
- You can do this inside by drawing the symbol on a big piece of paper taped to the wall, whiteboard or on a chalkboard
Rainbow Row
- Have your child sit criss cross applesauce on the driveway or on the sidewalk and have them show you how far they can reach to each side with their hands
- Use colorful chalk to draw dots in a vertical row for them to successfully reach
- Each color on the left should match a color on the right
- Have the child draw a line to connect the matching colors, visually tracking while keeping their head still
- If inside, draw dots on the left and right margins of a paper using colored markers or stickers
Hand Twister
- Using colorful chalk, on a fence, driveway or sidewalk, draw colored dots and call out positions that require crossing midline of arms or feet
- Example: “Left hand, yellow!”
- They should touch the yellow dot on their right side with their left hand.
- Activity can also be done by drawing letters, words, numbers, shapes, on each side
- To do this inside, complete the activity on a page by drawing colored dots
Pass a Ball to a Friend While Sitting Back-to-Back
- Have two children (or you and your child) sit back to back and pass a ball to each other
- Change directions in which you are passing and have the child use two hands when passing
Arm Scissors
- Have your child hold their arms out to the sides in a “T” position
- While keeping their arms straight demonstrate crossing your arms in front of your body then return your arms to the starting position for them to copy
- Have your child complete and encourage them to alternate which arm crosses on top (right over left, then left over right).
- Have them count aloud as they scissor their arms
- Complete this as fast or as slow as desired
Cross Crawls
- Bring your elbow to the opposite side knee
- Repeat with the other side, complete 10x each side
- Can be done while seated if necessary
Hand Clapping Games
- Teach your child Miss Merry Mack! Or have them clap their hands together then reach their opposite arm across to high five yours as they spell their name, your name, spring words, sight words, or anything of interest to them
- Completing while seated may allow you to see compensatory tendencies such as putting one hand down at their side or excessive rotation of their upper body
Additional Resources
https://www.theottoolbox.com/crossing-midline-march-gross-motor https://developlearngrow.com/midline-crossing-activities/
https://otperspective.com/40-crossing-midline-activities-you-can-do-at-home/
