Midline is an imaginary line that runs down the center of our body from the top of our head to our toes dividing our body into two equal parts. Many of our movements during the day require us to cross this imaginary line. For example, using your right hand to scratch your left shoulder. And when we cross this line, we describe the action as crossing midline.
Crossing the midline can be done with our eyes, hands, arms, feet, or legs. My foot crosses the midline when I kick or ball or dance. My hand crosses the midline when I dry my hair with my hair dryer or put on eyeliner and mascara. And our arms and legs rely on the ability of our eyes to scan and track objects across this imaginary line to perform all of these tasks.
How does our body learn to cross midline?
Each side of our body (not including our head) is controlled by the opposite half of our brain. For example, movements in your right hand are controlled by the left side of your brain and movement in your left leg are controlled by the right side of your brain.
Although control of our body is divided into different sides of our brain, that doesn’t mean that both sides of our brain don’t work together. In fact, the opposite is true. When I put a sock on my right foot, both sides of my brain need to be communicating with each other so that both hands and my foot can move in the appropriate direction to complete the task. Can you imagine what would happen if both sides weren’t communicating?
This communication between both sides of our brain is essential for crossing midline, but it is not something that babies are born being able to do. Instead, it develops over time.
Around 3 months of age, babies begin to follow objects with their eyes across midline. If you have ever watched a baby follow a toy or your jingling car keys, you have seen them cross midline with their eyes. As they get a little older, they begin to grab toys and play with them at the midline position often putting them in their mouths. With continued play and development, they learn to reach across midline to grab a toy, move objects from one hand to another and then to use them in a reciprocal pattern through crawling. All of this play and development is teaching both sides of the brain how to work together.
During the first 4-6 years of development, children continue to practice and learn skills that require bilateral coordination (both sides of the body and therefore brain working together). Crossing midline is one of those skills.
Children practice crossing midline by interacting with their environment. When they crawl, push cars along the ground, climb , finger paint, and play games like simon says, they are practicing crossing the middle over and over again. Unfortunately, spending time in front of screens or too much time in baby equipment can limit this interaction with the environment and have an impact on their ability to cross midline.
The ability to cross midline requires is an essential part of development. If a child does not acquire this important skill, there are many areas that can be impacted. Children who having difficulty crossing midline may have trouble with:
Writing: We need to be able to cross midline to write across an entire sheet of paper.
Reading: Our eyes have to scan from the left to right side of the brain when reading.
Fine motor tasks: Children who have difficulty crossing midline may struggle with cutting, coloring, stringing beads, and self-care activities.
Gross Motor Tasks: They may also struggle with hitting a ball of a tee, catching a ball not thrown directly at them, or dancing.
There are several indicators that a child is having difficulty crossing midline:
- Switching hands with writing or cutting when they reach the middle of a piece of paper.
- Turning their entire body when they reach the middle of the paper to avoid crossing the middle
- Using their left hand to do things on the left side of their body and using their right hand for things on the right.
- Kicking the ball with both feet depending on what side of the body the ball is positioned or rolling toward.
So, how can we help kids improve their ability to cross the midline?
- Babies need to spend a lot of time simply rolling around and playing, especially on their tummies. When allowed to explore, babies will naturally reach in all sorts of directions.
- As they get older crawling is essential. There is so much communication between both sides of the brain occurring when babies crawl.
- Toddlers need to spend time playing with blocks, push cars, balls, and sidewalk chalk. These activities naturally lend themselves to crossing the magical midline.
- Older Kids can
- Play games like Simon Says and Twister
- Enjoy crafts like beaded bracelets
- Help with chores like wipe the counter or mirrors, sweeping
- Create sidewalk chalk drawings
- Play clapping games like Ms. Mary Mack
- Play passing games like Hot Potato
- Use shaving cream or whip cream to create big art on a mirror or sliding glass door.
- Play T-Ball or catching games
- If your child is resistant to cross midline try positioning items in a way that requires them to cross the middle to participate. For example, place the markers to the side when coloring.
If you are concerned about your child’s development and ability to cross midline, reach out to your medical professional such as your doctor, PT , or OT for further evaluation.
I hope you learned a little something new about crossing the midline. Be sure to check back next week for some 5 minute midline activities. Hope you all have a great week!
-Heather
Pediatric Therapy Essentials, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.