Physical movements can direct impact on how you feel and how your mind-body function together. Oftentimes, we can strengthen this connections through various exercises, such as those classified as "crossing midline." Crossing midline is when a person moves their extremities (hand/foot) across midline (the center of your body) to the opposite side of your body. When crossing midline we encourage both sides of the brain to work together. 

Midline crossing helps with daily living activities such as reading, writing, tying shoe laces, reaching for toys more easily, rotating while dancing, etc. It helps you interact more fully with the environment. If a child has difficulty crossing midline they may frequently pass toys from one hand into the next, switch hands often while drawing or writing, perform right sided tasks with right hand and left sided tasks with left hand, or fully change body position to retrieve a toy rather than reaching across his/her body. 

Crossing Midline Exercises For Your Child

• Rotating to reach across chest to opposite side of body - could do with a puzzle or any desired toy
• Popping bubbles 1 hand at a time
• Coloring a large rainbow with chalk, crayons, etc.
• Play a clap/slap game like Miss Mary Mack (tap your right hand to theirs and vise versa)
• Play balloon tennis
• Simon says - (Tap right hand to left foot, tap L knee with R elbow, etc.)
• Doing a grapevine with your feet

Thank you to Ms. Courtney Rush, physical therapist assistant, for these awesome crossing midline exercises! If you are concerned that your child is not crossing midline, please reach out to a medical professional.