When it comes to helping children thrive in school, reading and writing skills often take center stage. But did you know that an important physical skill—crossing the midline—has been linked to playing a role in academic development in young children?
What Is the Midline?
The midline is an imaginary line that runs down the centre of the body, dividing it into left and right halves. Many daily tasks, such as writing, tying shoes, or reaching for a book, require movement that crosses this line.
What Does It Mean to “Cross the Midline”?
Crossing the midline means using one side of the body (like your right hand or foot) to perform a task on the opposite side (like reaching to your left). It might sound simple, but this kind of coordination is essential for developing strong motor and cognitive skills.
When Does Midline Crossing Begin?
Children begin developing this skill from a very young age:
- At 3 months, babies start tracking objects across their visual field.
- Around 6 months, they begin reaching across their body with one hand.
- By 8 months, they’ll transfer toys from one hand to the other.
- By age 4, most children should be able to cross the midline with ease.
This ability continues to strengthen as children grow and learn through movement, play, and practise.
Why Is This Skill So Important for Learning?
Struggling to cross the midline has been linked to several key areas of learning, especially reading and writing.
This is how midline can affect different areas of learning:
- Children who don’t cross the midline consistently may not develop a dominant hand, leading to weaker fine motor skills.
- Difficulty tracking across the page can impact reading fluency and comprehension.
- Visual coordination and body awareness, both tied to midline crossing, are critical for tasks like writing, spelling, and math.
What About Cross Dominance?
Some children are “cross dominant,” meaning they use different hands (or feet, or eyes) for different tasks. While this might seem like ambidexterity, it can signal a lack of midline integration.
Children with crossed dominance may:
- Struggle with coordination and body control
- Avoid tasks that require fine motor precision
- Experience difficulty in classroom tasks like copying from the board or completing worksheets
Studies have shown that children with ADHD are more likely to be cross-dominant, which can further impact focus, organization, and academic performance.
Supporting Midline Development at Home
The good news is that you can help your child build this important skill with fun, simple activities at home. Try to incorporate these at home:
- Cross-body movements (touching right elbow to left knee, and vice versa)
- Throwing and catching with one hand across the body
- Drawing large figure eights in the air or on paper
- Yoga and dance routines that involve reaching across the body
- Games like Simon Says or Twister
Encouraging sports like tennis, swimming, martial arts, or basketball can also provide excellent midline-crossing practice.
Students as Whole Learners
Crossing the midline is an important developmental milestone for students, playing an important role in children’s physical development. However, it’s important to note that the impact on academic performance is part of a broader understanding of how students learn, rather than a prescriptive or diagnostic indicator of student intelligence.
While some developmental psychologists and occupational therapists consider midline crossing a meaningful milestone in skill development, other researchers say the theory is under-researched, especially regarding cognitive outcomes like reading, attention, or academic performance.
Supporting academic success means examining every aspect of a child’s learning, including their physical and motor development. Our personalized programs focus on building the foundational skills students need to succeed in school and beyond.
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