Why Midline Matters - Supporting Your Child's Motor Development

Our February Community Partnerships presentation, given by occupational therapist Tracey Davis, addressed the topic of “Why Midline Matters”.

Here is what we learned:

1. Midline refers to the imaginary vertical line dividing the body into left and right halves. We naturally “cross the midline” with our arms during activities such as brushing teeth and hair and putting on socks or a backpack.

We also cross midline with our eyes as we scan our environment and track with our eyes when we read. Complex motor skills such as swinging a bat also require midline crossing.

2. The ability to cross midline suggests that the right and left sides of our brain are communicating with each other. It is an important step for the development of complex motor skills and cognitive fluency. Children who are not crossing midline efficiently may struggle with developing a dominant hand. They may turn their whole body, instead of rotating to reach, or may shift their position to keep objects on one side of their body while working/playing.

We look for this skill to emerge once children have developed a stable core for sitting and rotating and after they can push, pull, and crawl.

3. Brain Gym (see link in “News and Resources”) is a structured exercise/activity program that encourages the practice of specific cross-body exercises for school-aged children. If your child enjoys this type of activity, then this is a great option.

Try joining your child in their favorite activities and watch for ways that you can add a midline crossing component by changing the position of a toy or the child. Don’t forget we gave you “permission” to go with you child’s ideas and to have lots of fun in the process!

You can also follow your child’s lead to work on midline crossing. If they like to play with trucks and trains, then get them crawling around on the floor. As they push their vehicles on a big path or road with you, midline crossing will happen naturally.

If they like to draw or (finger) paint or play with shaving cream, then give them a large vertical surface and encourage big sweeping strokes across midline as you create. Even washing their body or the kitchen table with a washcloth in one hand will get them moving across midline.

My favorite midline activity is just “crazy dancing” with my daughter. Music alone may promote brain hemisphere communication. Then add some crazy dance moves and kids will almost always cross midline without trying.

Looking to get more guidance?

Explore our Community Education Series Seminars