Crossing Midline

There is an imaginary line down the center of your body that divides the body into left and right sides. This line is called the body’s midline. Imagine combing your hair with one hand and crossing over to the opposite side to comb strands of hair. This is an example of crossing midline with the arms. Crossing midline is an important developmental skill that is essential for many everyday tasks such as handwriting, reading, dressing, scissor cutting, playing sports such as baseball, and more. When a child does not spontaneously cross midline, hand dominance may be delayed and can affect academic performance in school. For example, a child may attempt to switch hands mid-way through a handwriting task. In order for a child to do well in handwriting, there must be a dominant hand that is specialized in precise and controlled movements of the pencil. Below you will find suggested activities that promote crossing midline.