Lessons

Topic 3: What Does It Look Like and Why Is It Important for the Classroom?

 

Clues a child may be struggling crossing the midline:

  • Uses the right hand to play on the right side of the body and the left hand to play on the left side, transferring a toy from one hand to the other as play moves from one side of the body to the other.
  • Struggles tracking left to right
  • Underdeveloped fine motor skills
  • Delays in meeting development milestones like crawling, jumping or skipping
  • Challenged balance
  • Challenged coordination
  • Poor strength, particularly in the neck, arms and legs
  • Changes hands when writing, painting or coloring
  • W-sitting
  • Limited trunk rotation
  • Difficulty with self-care tasks like putting on shoes or brushing teeth

We strengthen crossing the midline skill with use!

  • Climbing
  • Monkey bars: hand over hand
  • Movement games with streamers or ribbons
  • Marching, touching elbow or hand to opposite knee
  • Windmills
  • Wiping down a table or blackboard
  • Kicking a ball
  • Animal walking (crab, bear, puppy)
  • Marching like a toy soldier
  • Games like Twister or Simon Says
  • Yoga
  • Drawing big infinity symbols
  • Sweeping
  • Driving a “car” with a pretend steering wheel
  • Sitting back to back and passing a ball side to side