Opposite Sides Working Together

by Chelsea McNichols

OTR/L, CIMI

Bilateral Skills in Early Childhood

Bilateral coordination is the skill needed to use both sides of the body together in an organized way. We take for granted how often we rely on bilateral coordination skills in daily activities and play routines.

Both sides of the brain must communicate effectively in order for a child to perform these skills. 

If a child struggles with bilateral coordination, they may have difficulty with self-help tasks, fine and gross motor activities, and visual-motor skills such as:

getting dressed | tying shoes | opening the cap on the toothpaste | banging toys together stringing beads | coloring | cutting | crawling walking | riding a bicycle

Two foundational skills that bilateral coordination relies on are crossing the midline and body awareness.

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Benchmarks to identify bilateral skills according to your child’s age:

Infant 

• bring hands together at the midline

• play with his/her own feet

• clap hands

• transfer objects from one side to another 

Toddler

• pull apart pop beads

• hold and drink from a cup

• use utensils 

• hold a dowel and place rings over it 

• unwrap a small object (such as a dum-dum) and unscrew lids

Preschool

• string small beads

• unbutton large buttons

• make continuous cuts across paper with scissors

• imitate pre-writing strokes (horizontal and vertical lines, circle)

• catch a ball thrown to them 

• put clothing on independently 

• unscrew toothpaste cap and apply toothpaste to toothbrush 

School-Aged

• write letters of the alphabet 

• jump rope

• ride a bicycle 

• tie shoes 

Make working on bilateral skills FUN!

Check out this FREE activity

Other Activities to encourage bilateral coordination: 

• Legos 

• Magnatiles

• Balloon volleyball 

• Creating crafts - ripping/crumbling paper, pulling cotton balls, opening marker lids 

• Catch/throw games

• Play-doh - pinching, pulling, squeezing, cutting

• Stringing dry noodles 

• Mr. Potato Head

• Cooking/baking activities - icing cookies, stirring, spreading peanut butter 

• Yoga 

Chelsea suggests the following resources for parents: 

Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Lindsey Biel

The ABCs of Yoga for Kids: A Guide for Parents and Teachers by Teresa Anne Power