What is Cross Lateral Movement?
You have heard me say that children learn through play, but did you know that children’s ability to learn is actually strengthened through specific types of play? Activities that encourage children to move their arms and legs across their mid-line (cross lateral movements) actually have a dramatic effect on learning.
You have heard me say that children learn through play, but did you know that children’s ability to learn is actually strengthened through specific types of play? Activities that encourage children to move their arms and legs across their mid-line (cross lateral movements) actually have a dramatic effect on learning.
Imagine an invisible line that stretches down the center of your body. This is your mid-line. The left side of your brain controls the right side of your body, and the right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. When your right arm or leg crosses over to the left side of the body or vise versa, it forces the left and right side of your brain to work together. The part of the brain that connects these two sides is called the corpus callosum.
Why is this important?
The right and left side of your brain are responsible not only for controlling the left and right parts of your body, but specialize in processing different types of information. The left side uses logic, facts and rules. It governs language and words, math and science, pattern and order. The right side uses feeling, it sees the big picture, it recognizes symbols and images. The right side processes spatial perception, and object function. The right side allows us to imagine possibilities.
By strengthening the corpus callosum, we are bringing together the dreamer and the doer. We are strengthening the part of the brain that will enable children to do activities which require crossing the mid-line like reading and writing. More and more educators in preschool and elementary class rooms are incorporating activities that encourage cross lateral movement and strengthening the corpus callosum.
What can we do?
Most infants begin to do this on their own by 6 months. When they reach across their highchair for a Cheerio, or when they follow you with their eyes as you walk across the room, they are showing examples of cross lateral movement. A surprisingly important developmental stage for brain development is crawling. When an infant crawls, he uses his left knee together with his right hand to propel himself forward. He is using his corpus callosum.
As children get older, there are many ways we can encourage these types of movements. Stay tuned for part 2 of this series which will include a roundup of activities you can use at home and in the class room that encourage cross lateral movement and brain development.
As children get older, there are many ways we can encourage these types of movements. Stay tuned for part 2 of this series which will include a roundup of activities you can use at home and in the class room that encourage cross lateral movement and brain development.
So interesting. I taught mostly intermediate grades (and then first grade for a while) when I was teaching. Now I'm home with two preschoolers. I find the ways they learn are so interesting... you can actually see some of this learning occuring as their awkward movements become more fluid. Your article is so informative but the pictures of your daughter really lighten it up and make it a lot of fun to read too! (She's adorable!) :) Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI found you on Pinterest! Great article about crossing the midline! I'm a big fan of the brain and how it works. (And I agree with Jackie H, your little girl is adorable!)
ReplyDeleteSally from ElementaryMatters
This is the biggest reason my pediatrician sent my 21 month old to Early intervention. He never crawled the "traditional way". Which is ok in and of itself but in the big picture it is a huge milestone not only for brain development but for gross motor development.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great explanation of the importance of Cross Lateral exercises. My son went to Brain Balance, which found that he was so exceptionally gifted on the left side of his brain that the right side of his brain was functioning as if it was delayed although it was actually just average. They gave us many exercises to do at home as part of a home therapy program, but until your article I didn't completely understand why they would help. I have seen dramatic improvement and, thanks to you, I now understand why!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all your wonderful comments! I have to say I agree with Jackie H. too. I am quite taken with her! ;) Vbeddingfield, I am so glad that this post helped you to understand! I was in a similar boat as you. I had gone to several trainings for continuing education which listed in great detail all of the activities you could do to encourage crossing the mid-line, but no one ever explained why it was important. I eventually had to do the research on my own. I'm happy that others are finding this information helpful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this! My son is in Early Intervention (he is blind) and his therapists talk about crossing midline all the time but I never really got it until now. It makes so much more sense to me after reading this. I'm going to try to work on more cross -lateral activities for him. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi- Would you mind if I included an exerpt of this post on my blog. I write a blog about my son who is blind and I'd love to write about midline. You explain it so perfectly here. Would you mind if I used a part of your explanation and linked to your post and credited you? Please let me know.
ReplyDeleteThanks
jessica.kovacs979@gmail.com
As long as it is a small excerpt with a link back, I think that would be fine. I am so glad that you found the information useful.
ReplyDeleteHi! I just wanted to highlight the fact that you sure managed to build a marvelous site. Will you be so nice and answer my question. Did you take place in some blogging competitions?
ReplyDelete