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Body & Coordination

Crossing the midline activities for kids

When writing, one hand holds the paper and the other guides the pencil. Getting dressed, riding a bike or catching a ball all need both sides of the body to work together. When an arm reaches across the middle of the body, occupational therapists call it “crossing the midline”. Kids with lots of energy or wobbly coordination often find this hard.

The 8 movement activities in this area practice exactly these patterns: cross crawls in a marching rhythm, big lazy eights in the air, rhythms with both hands or an arrow course on the floor. They suit children from age 3 and take 2 to 8 minutes.

6 activities come with a printable template, the others only need some space or a small ball. Many work well as a brain break before learning or as a warm-up before a table activity.

Movement is good for children with ADHD. Studies find signs of better impulse control and attention, especially with movement that also challenges the mind. These activities are play and practice at home and do not replace occupational therapy.

Source: Song et al. 2023, PLOS One

Which age fits

  • Preschool (ages 3 to 4)Big movements from the shoulder come before fine movements with a pencil. That is why Big Loop and Big Air Shapes suit the youngest kids, as do the Cross Crawl March and the Arrow Course. Show each movement slowly, since kids this age learn a lot by copying.
  • Kindergarten (age 5)Now both hands work together more. In Two-Hand Path, Block Beat and Mirror Drawing, each hand gets its own job. In Ball Figure Eight, your child plans a movement around their own body.
  • Elementary school (ages 6 to 10)School-age kids like using the activities as a movement break between two tasks, and the Cross Crawl March only takes a few minutes. Older kids can lay out the Arrow Course themselves and build a path for younger siblings.

The exercises

Which activity when

SituationMatching activities
In the morning or after sitting for a long time, to wake upCross Crawl March, Ball Figure Eight
When lots of energy needs to come out indoorsArrow Course, Cross Crawl March
As calm preparation for drawing and writingBig Loop, Mirror Drawing
When left and right still get mixed upTwo-Hand Path, Block Beat
For the youngest kids, with big movementsBig Air Shapes, Big Loop

Frequently asked questions

Are these occupational therapy exercises?

The activities are based on games used in occupational therapy and checked against sources from OT and research. They do not replace occupational therapy. If your child is already in treatment, feel free to show them to the therapist.

How much space do we need?

For most activities a few steps in every direction is enough. Clear away obstacles and sharp edges and play on a non-slip floor.

What does crossing the midline mean?

It means that a hand or foot reaches across the imaginary line down the middle of the body, for example when the right hand moves to the left knee. In everyday life this happens all the time, when getting dressed, drawing or playing ball.

Do the activities work in a small apartment?

Yes. Most of them only need a few steps of space. If you have neighbors downstairs, play barefoot and take big steps rather than high jumps on the Arrow Course.

Further reading