Ot Activities That Simulate Gardening

Bilateral coordination activities are essential for coordinated and fluid movements that require both sides of the body. Also called bilateral integration, the movements of both hands together in activities requires processing and integration of both hemispheres of the brain to enable both hands working together at the same time, or bilateral movements. Without bilateral coordination, a child might appear to be clumsy or drop items, use primarily one hand in activities, or switch hands during tasks that require a dominant hand and a helper hand. Development of bilateral coordination skills is powerful in functional skills like self-feeding, handwriting, self-dressing, grooming, and more.

Bilateral Coordination Activities

First, let's talk a little more about bilateral coordination. What is bilateral coordination, and how do bilateral movements impact learning, functional tasks, and play in child development?

Check out these bilateral coordination toys to help kids build skills through play and games.

Why is bilateral coordination important?

Bilateral coordination is important for a variety of skills.

When bilateral coordination or bilateral integration is intact and progressing appropriately through development, it is an indicator that both sides of the brain are communicating effectively and sharing information during functional tasks.

Younger toddlers and babies can be observed using both hands in play as they pick up objects in their line of sight. However, they typically will pick up items with the hand that is closest to the object or toy.

As toddlers progress in development, they will begin to establish a dominant hand and crossing midline. This ability to utilize a dominant hand and a non-dominant hand in activities indicates a maturation of the brain and lateralization in functional tasks, which is very important for motor planning, directionality, and visual motor skills.

In fact, impaired bilateral coordination skills can lead to difficulty in the classroom.

Development of bilateral coordination in self-feeding depends greatly on the child's developmental level. The baby who is learning to place dry cereal in their mouth will be vastly different level than the child who is scooping soup or cutting a piece of chicken. Development of fine motor skills and visual motor skills have an impact on coordination of the hands in self-feeding.

Bilateral coordination activities to help kids develop and build the skills needed for symmetrical coordination activities, alternating arm and leg movements, and hand dominance activities.

What makes up bilateral coordination?

In fact, there are three components of bilateral coordination:
Symmetrical movements
Alternating movements
Dominant hand/supporting hand movements

types of bilateral coordination:

There are three different types of bilateral coordination. Let's break these down.

1.) Symmetrical movements– Both hands do the same thing at the same time. An example of this would be pulling up pants or socks. Other activities that can work on this skill include

Holding a squeeze bottle with both hands at the midline to paint.
Jumping rope
Jumping Jacks
Catching a ball with two hands

2.) Alternating Movements– Using the two extremities in alternating motions. You will see alternating bilateral coordination with swimming or climbing a ladder. Activities to work on this skill include:

Riding a bike
Marching

3.) Dominant hand/Non-dominant hand– Using one hand to perform a task while the other assists is needed for many fine motor skills. This type of bilateral coordination is needed for writing, and cutting with scissors. Activities to work on this skill include:

Threading
Lacing cards
Coloring
Writing
Tying shoes

This occupational therapy tool is Easter-themed but it builds the skills needed for kids to cut with scissors while refining and building accuracy with scissor skills.

Bilateral Coordination and the Vestibular System

Bilateral coordination is closely related to the vestibular system. When our body registers movement and gravity it allows us to respond with appropriate movement, balance, and posture. The vestibular system and our body's ability to register information and integrate it into movements enables bilateral coordination and body awareness of the upper and lower body. Below, you will find all of our activities that build and develop bilateral coordination. Try these activities to work on many skills like visual motor integration and fine motor skills while encouraging bilateral coordination. Be sure to stop back, because this page will be updated often!

Related: Need some indoor bilateral coordination activities like this one? Try our list of Winter Bilateral Coordination Activities that kids will love!

Bilateral Coordination ideas for kids:

Development of Bilateral Coordination in Self-Feeding

Winter Bilateral Coordination Activities

Bilateral Coordination Shamrock

Crossing Mid-line Gross Motor March

Bilateral Coordination with Pop Tubes

Bilateral Coordination Lacing Plate

Fine Motor Burlap Feather Lacing

Extended Wrist Fine Motor Activity

In-hand Manipulation Letter Puzzles
In-Hand Manipulation with Coins

Jumbo Fine Motor Skills Threading Activity

Intrinsic Muscle Strength with an Egg Carton

Magnetic Spoons and Handwriting Game

Pencil Grasp Trick Thumb IP Flexion

Thumb Opposition

Fine Motor Play Dough Intrinsic Muscle Strength

Rainbow Hundreds Chart

Pencil Control Exercises
Pre-Writing Handwriting Lines

Neat Pincer Grasp Fine Motor Activity

Benefits of Stickers in Occupational Therapy

Buttoning Tips and Tricks

Hand Dominance and Fine Motor with Scooping and Pouring

Homemade Pegboard Activities

The Benefits of Coloring

Clothes Pin Exercises and Pinch Grasp Types

Creative Scissor Skills Practice

Precision in Grasp and Release of Fine Motor Skills

Chain Link Counters Color Sort

Hand-Eye Coordination Heart Math

Handwriting Warm Up Exercises

Homemade Lacing Cards

Motor Planning Fine Motor Maze

Hand Strengthening Building Activity

Fall Leaves Craft

Alphabet Discovery Bottle

Scarecrow Math Craft

Crayon shaving art

Shape building

Dyed lollipop sticks

Rainbow color sort

Foam Workout

Water Bead Sensory Box

Handwriting With Cookie Cutters

Cursive Lines Fizzy Dough

Mini Rhythm Sticks

Push Pin Can Letters

Marble Run Water Table

Empathy Beads

Butterfly Craft

Handwriting on Resistive Foam Trays

Snap Block Light Sabers

Handwriting with Foam Strips

Fine Motor Pincer Grasp Color Match

Finger Dexterity Exercise

Fine Motor Play With Crafting Pom Poms

Fine Motor Tripod Grasp with Cereal

Sparkle Collage Art

Visual-Motor Letter Match

Bunny Scissor Tongs

Cherry Blossom Trees

Fine Motor And Auditory Fireworks

In Hand Manipulation Ideas for Kids

Color Matching with Play Dough

Feather Beading

Fireworks Art

Color Sort Scissor Activity

Fine Motor Grow a Garden

Play Dough and Rocks

Fine Motor with Keys

Hand-Eye Coordination Cookies

Brain Building with Balls in a Muffin Tin

Using Pipe Cleaners for Fine Motor Skills

Crayon Play Dough

Fine Motor Play with Tissue Paper

Golf Tee Hammering

Fine Motor Table Top Play with Tape

Rainbow Bracelets

Pipe Cleaner Fine Motor Fun

Icicle Scissor Skills

Sunflower Craft

Fine Motor with Keys

Straw Fine Motor Sort

Easy Scissor Practice

Threading Lids

Creative Scissor Skills Practice

Scissor Skills Crash Course

Improving Scissor Skills with Play Dough

Cutting Foam Beads

Finger-painting Fireworks for Scissor Use

Handwriting and Bilateral Coordination

Bilateral coordination activities to help kids develop and build the skills needed for symmetrical coordination activities, alternating arm and leg movements, and hand dominance activities.

Colleen Beck, OTR/L is an occupational therapist with 20 years experience, graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2000. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. As the creator, author, and owner of the website and its social media channels, Colleen strives to empower those serving kids of all levels and needs. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.