Bilateral means “both sides”. Bilateral coordination (bilateral integration) is using both sides of the body at the same time. Well developed bilateral coordination allows students to use both hands together to accomplish school tasks. Many tasks require a coordinated dominant hand/ recessive hand approach as the student's hands do two different things at once. Examples include handwriting (one hand writes - one hand stabilizes the paper), self serving in the lunch line (one hand scoops - one hand holds the tray), using scissors (one hand holds and moves the paper - one hand holds and manipulates the scissors), while some activities require the same task from both hands such as using a rolling pin or hanging from monkey bars. Furthermore, bilateral coordination allows us to zip a coat, open containers, and tie shoes.
Activities to Support Bilateral Coordination
Print: Activities to support bilateral coordination
1) Rhythmic drumming: Hands together, hands one at a time. Hands stay on their side, hands cross over. Drumming on drums, drumming on knees. Clapping and patting to songs, especially when used in instruction such as songs about days of the week.
2) Tearing, cutting and folding paper. Use a hand held hole punch.
3) At recess encourage running, playing kickball, playing catch, digging with buckets. At home try jumping jacks, swimming or other full body exercises.
4) Hold an index card with one hand and place a clothes pins or paper clips on a specific spot (number, color, shape) with the other hand.
5) Legos and other building blocks, playdough, hammering, painting and dressing / undressing dolls and action figures.
6) Stringing beads, stringing cheerios onto pipe cleaners, opening and closing twist lids on jars, using a hole punch.
7) Animal walks, marching, criss-cross walking, The Itsy Bitsy Spider hand movements.
8) Dribbling - ball with both hands or one hand.
9) Food preparation: spreading jam, stirring cookie dough, pouring liquids, cracking eggs, and putting a sandwich into a bag.
10) Dancing along with music videos, dancing video games.
11) At home have your student help with putting away groceries, putting away clean clothes and other chores that use both hands.
12) Use Ziploc bags to put snacks, or small activities in. When the child goes to eat their snacks, or play with toys they will get to practice using two hands. Ziploc bags that have the “zipper piece” are easier to open and close.