Midline Crossing Activities

Adults take for granted the ability to extend their limbs across the midlines of their bodies. But Neurologic Music Therapist Kimberly Moore says pediatricians don't expect children to gain this fundamental skill until they reach six months of age. Why do we need to learn to cross the midline? For one, basic reading and writing skills -- and the very ability to learn -- build on a developing child's ability to perform cross-lateral motions. Kindergarten teachers and early child development specialists recommend that parents encourage their children to develop these skills through regular midline crossing activities.

  1. Basic Midline Crossing

    • Instruct your child to stand up straight with her arms down. Ask her to reach across her body and touch her left knee with her right hand. Then, ask her to switch and touch her right knee with their left hand. Repeat the exercise touching elbows to opposite knees and hands to opposite feet. Use "Simon Says" or a song like "The Hokey Pokey" to keep basic midline crossing from getting monotonous.

    Large Scale Drawing

    • Use sidewalk chalk and draw a four-by-four foot square on an asphalt driveway. Give your child the chalk and ask him to draw the earth, a big happy face or any circular object that comes to mind. Toddler Activities At Home suggests asking him to draw a rainbow with all of the chalk colors you have. The broad, sweeping motions required to draw curves this size will require him to cross the midline with his dominant hand. If you do not have a space for sidewalk drawing, give him watercolors and butcher paper or markers and a large whiteboard.

    Family Carwash

    • Get a couple sponges and buckets and make a group activity out of washing the car. Give your child a sponge and tell her to wipe the car using big circles.

    Foam-painting

    • Cover a large table with a solid color waterproof plastic tablecloth. Spray shaving foam onto the tablecloth and tell your child to paint whatever he wants with his fingers. He will cross the midline repeatedly while finger painting in the foam to reveal the color of the tablecloth beneath.

    Giant Tic-Tac-Toe

    • Make a giant tic-tac-toe board in a sandbox or at the beach. Make the squares large enough for your child to stand in with her feet far apart. Play a few rounds using your hands to scratch out X's and O's in the sand.

    Cars on the Freeway

    • Draw a road in the shape of a figure eight on a large piece of butcher paper. Give your child a toy car or truck and have her drive along the road. If you do not have a toy vehicle, have a crayon race. Give your child a crayon and tell her to race it around the freeway, leaving a trail of color in its path.

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