Bilateral coordination refers to the ability to coordinate both sides of the body at the same time in a controlled and organized manner; for example, stabilizing paper with one hand while writing/ cutting with the other. Good bilateral integration/ coordination is an indicator that both sides of the brain are communicating effectively and sharing information. Children who have difficulty coordinating both sides of their body can have difficulty completing daily living tasks (dressing, tying shoes), fine motor activities (banging blocks together, stringing beads, buttoning), visual motor tasks (drawing, writing, cutting, catching/ throwing), and gross motor activities (crawling, walking, climbing stairs, riding a bike). The bilateral coordination activities are:
- Bopping a balloon back and forth or popping bubbles with both hands
- Tearing/ crumpling tissue paper, cotton balls (create a craft, etc.)
- Connecting/ separating construction toys; magnetic blocks, Mega blocks, pop-beads, Legos
- Playing catch/ throw games to encourage coordinating both hands
- Playing with toy instruments; banging drums, triangle, symbols
- Pinching, pulling, squeezing, play-doh (finding hidden objects, etc.); as well as using the play-doh “tools”
- Stringing uncooked pasta on yarn or beads on pipe cleaners/ string
- Snipping/ cutting with scissors- yarn, string licorice, play-doh, construction paper (thicker), coupons, etc.
- Lacing activities/ games- i.e. use hole punchers with craft projects and have the child lace string/ yarn through the holes
- Frosting cookies with a butter knife, spreading peanut butter on crackers/ toast
- Playing the Hokey Pokey or “Simon Says:” have the child imitate body positions as well, “Simon Says do this…..” and include symmetric and asymmetric body poses
- Climbing on the playground: up the slide (both the ladder and the incline), up/ down stairs, on/ off equipment
- Obstacle courses
- Playing on dynamic (moving) equipment- small trampoline, balance board, swings
- Pushing/ pulling weighted objects; medicine balls, weighted carts, carrying grocery bags, laundry basket, taking out the trash, etc.
- Sports/ athletics: gymnastics, karate, yoga, wrestling, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc
- Playing Tug-of-War; and crashing into a pile of pillows, beanbags
- Swimming
- Wheelbarrow walking, animal walking (bear walk, crab walk, snake crawling)
- Jumping rope
- Jumping Jacks
- Catching a ball with two hands
- Lacing cards
- Coloring
- Writing
- Tying shoes
