![]() You cross your midline when you put on your seatbelt or turn the steering wheel for a sharp turn. The important part to note, is that the trunk stays still – the body does not twist – as the arm reaches across the middle. When a child crosses midline, their hand will reach across this imaginary line to the other side of the body. This line divides the body into left and right sides. Picture an imaginary line that goes from the top of the head through the nose, neck, chest, and belly button. Midline crossing, or crossing the midline, is when a person’s arm or leg crosses the middle of the body to the other side. He gave me one of those looks, shook his head, and started his homework. OT-Mom relief… he effectively crossed his midline without rotating his trunk! I carefully analyzed his body position and arm movements as he grabbed it. Of course, I placed it back down on his left side to have him reach for it again… with his right hand, per mom’s request. The OT in me thought, “Oh no, he’s not crossing midline! He should have reached across the middle of his body with his right hand to get his pencil!” He picked it up with his left hand and transferred it to his right hand at the middle of his body. His response, “Because it was sitting there!” (on the left side) I remember the confusion on my son’s face when I asked why he picked up his pencil with his left hand. They’re great for all developing brains, bodies and eyes! Brain gym movements also provide opportunities to teach young children the names of more unusual body parts such as the thorax or pelvis, muscles and bones while also developing motor coordination and skills to follow directions.These occupational therapy midline crossing activities are quick and easy to use. Therefore, these exercises may be perfect to do as a group during a lesson break. Movements that take more space such as the “calf pump” where one leg is extended as the child grasps the back of a chair may require arranging classroom furniture to make space. Children can be taught to engage in them when they feel their attention drifting or when they are feeling fatigued. Many exercises can be performed while sitting quietly at a desk. Holding two fingers under the lower lip while breathing deeply to perform “Earth buttons” demonstrates a centering exercise that can be performed anywhere, anytime. The “Owl” exercise is an example of a focusing exercise because the child concentrates on breathing deeply while turning his head to the side and grasping the shoulder his head is facing. Other letters are formed at the center of the eight working left to right. Some letters are formed beginning at the center of the eight working from right to left. The large horizontal eight is used again as children write inside the edges. ![]() “Alphabet eights” help children focus on forming letters and fitting them correctly in their spaces. It is recommended that they trace the shape three times with each hand and then three times with both hands together. Tracing repeatedly around a very large horizontal eight (or infinity sign) forces the child to reach across midline. This can be done as the child bends the knee to reach the foot in front of him or reaches behind to touch the extended foot. ![]() Children can hop in lines, a circle or randomly as they touch the right hand to the left foot and the left hand to the right foot. These are simple free brain gym exercises that require no materials. Cross Lateral ExercisesĬross lateral exercises are ideal for active children to perform at the beginning of the school day either in the gym or outdoors. Centering exercises such as “Brain buttons” are performed before reading or other visual tasks to relax the body and alert the mind. These movements are designed to improve attention and abilities to learn new information. Exercises to promote focus involve stretching into positions while taking deep breaths. ![]() Movements that involve crossing the middle of the body-such as when the right hand touches the left foot promote the laterality dimension. Dennison based on the theory that the human brain functions in three dimensions–laterality, focus and centering. The brain gym exercises were created in the early 1970’s by educator Paul E. ![]()
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