10 Games to Practice Crossing the Midline

The Power of Crossing the Midline: Creating New Pathways in the Brain
The brain is an incredible organ, constantly growing and forming new connections, especially in children. One fascinating process that supports brain development is crossing the midline—the ability to reach across the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves. When children practice crossing the midline, it helps to create and strengthen neural pathways between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, enhancing coordination, focus, and cognitive development.

Why Crossing the Midline MattersEach hemisphere of the brain controls different functions: the left side typically manages logical tasks like language and problem-solving, while the right side is responsible for creativity and spatial awareness. However, to perform complex tasks effectively, both hemispheres must work together. Crossing the midline allows this integration to occur, facilitating communication between the hemispheres through the corpus callosum, a bundle of nerve fibres that connects the two sides.
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For children, crossing the midline helps with skills such as reading, writing, gross and fine motor coordination, and even social-emotional regulation. It enables them to use both sides of their bodies together more efficiently, an essential part of everyday activities. Lack of midline crossing can hinder these developmental processes, so it is important to provide opportunities for children to engage in activities that encourage this skill.

10 Fun Games to Practice Crossing the Midline

Here are ten fun and engaging games that can help children practice crossing the midline while simultaneously promoting brain development:

These games are a fun and effective way to boost brain development while keeping kids active and engaged. So, grab a ball, scarves, or a broom, and watch as your child strengthens their body and brain—one crossing at a time!

​1. Ball Toss Across the Body
Have children toss a ball from one hand to the other on the opposite side of their body, allowing them to reach across and catch it with the opposite hand. Start above the head, then lower to the midline and finally, have them bend down and toss the ball at knee level.

2. Simon Says with Cross-Lateral Movements
Play a game of Simon Says, incorporating instructions like "touch your left knee with your right hand" or "reach your right hand to your left shoulder."

3. Drawing Large Figure Eights
​Give children a large piece of paper and have them draw figure eights with one hand, ensuring they cross the midline each time they move from one side to the other.

4. Scarf or Ribbon Dancing
Provide children with lightweight scarves, fabric squares, ribbons or streamers. Ask them to dance around, waving the scarves in large arcs across their bodies. Encourage movements where they cross the scarf from one side of their body to the other.

5. Obstacle Course
Set up an obstacle course that requires children to move in different directions. Incorporate tasks such as reaching over their body to place an item on the opposite side or stepping side-to-side to encourage midline crossing.

6. Miss Mary Mack Hand Clapping Game
The Miss Mary Mack hand-clapping game is perfect for children in grades 1-3. When teaching clapping games, our best advice is to go slowly and break this lesson into several days. If you play this game so much that your child gets bored, mix it up with a different tempo, face a new direction, or practice the moves lying on the floor!

7. Passing Relay
If your child has siblings or friends over, line children up shoulder to shoulder while facing forward, and have them pass objects back and forth up and down the line. You can make this a fun game by adding timers or passing objects down the line to fill and empty baskets. For an extra challenge, line up children back to back and have them pass an object to each other while keeping their backs touching.

8. Toy or Block Sorting Game
​Place a pile of toys or blocks on one side of your child and ask them to sort them into buckets or trays on their other side. To succeed, they must reach across their body to place the objects in the correct bin, helping to reinforce this vital skill.

9. Sand Sorting Exercise
This game is similar to the block sorting game but with sand and a bucket. Place a bucket on your child's left side, have them shovel sand from the right side, and rotate to place the sand in the bucket on their left. Ensure your child keeps the shovel in the same hand throughout this exercise, then switch the bucket side and which hand is holding the shovel.

10. Hokey Pokey
Hokey Pokey is a popular children's song and dance with a very catchy melody. The dance follows the "instructions" given in the following song lyrics, and you can find the tune HERE.

Hokey Pokey - Lyrics
You put your right foot in
You put your right foot out
You put your right foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in
You put your left foot out
You put your left foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in
You put your right hand out
You put your right hand in
And you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about!

You put your left hand in
You put your left hand out
You put your left hand in
And you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about!

You put your head in
You put your head out
You put your head in
And you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about!

You put your whole self in
You put your whole self out
You put your whole self in
And you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around

Bonus: Sweeping!
Sweeping inside or outdoors is one of the best crossing-the-midline exercises! It also helps develop a preference for handedness. As your children sweep and move across their bodies, they will also build strength in their hands and arms.

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Crossing the midline is more than just a movement—it's a brain-building activity that enhances the connection between the two hemispheres. Children can develop this crucial skill through playful, intentional activities that support their overall coordination, cognitive abilities, and academic readiness. By encouraging children to practice crossing the midline, you give them the tools they need for a lifetime of learning and growth.