As parents, we all want the best for our little bundles of joy. From their first giggle to their first steps, we cheer them on every step of the way. One crucial aspect of their development that often goes unnoticed is bilateral integration – the magic that helps them use both sides of their body together. So, let’s dive into the amazing world of bilateral integration and learn some proven strategies to boost your toddler or baby’s development!
What is Bilateral Integration?
Before we get into the strategies, let’s understand what bilateral integration all is about. It’s a fancy term, but it simply means using both sides of the body together in a coordinated way. It’s like a secret handshake, or a dance between the left and right sides of the brain, helping your little one master essential skills.
Why Is It So Important?
Bilateral integration is like the secret sauce for many activities kids do every day. From drawing and cutting to crawling and dressing themselves, it plays a key role. It even helps with more advanced skills like writing, playing sports, and tying shoelaces as they grow older.
Proven Strategies for Success – let them play:
- Fun with Playdough: Roll up your sleeves and have a blast with playdough! Encourage your child to use both hands to squeeze, roll, and shape the dough. This will strengthen their hands and boost bilateral coordination.
- Crossing the Midline: Draw a line on the floor with tape and scatter toys on both sides. Encourage your little one to reach across the line with their right hand to pick up toys on the left side, and vice versa. It’s like a playful hopscotch of development!
- Let’s Dance: Crank up the music and have a dance party together! Encourage movements that cross the midline, like reaching across their body while dancing. Dancing is not just fun; it’s a fantastic way to boost bilateral integration.
- Creative Colouring: Hand your kiddo a box of crayons and let their imagination run wild! Encourage them to switch hands while colouring or drawing shapes. This will help strengthen their non-dominant hand and improve coordination.
Unlock Your Child’s Potential!
By unlocking the power of bilateral integration, you’re setting your little one up for success in various aspects of life. These simple strategies can be woven into your daily routine, making learning a joyful adventure for both of you. Remember, every child is unique, so be patient and celebrate every milestone along the way!
Here at Clamber Club, play is our middle name – it is in everything we do! From our exhilarating SPORTS extra-murals at schools to the heart-pumping excitement of our Clamber Club PARTIES, and the super-engaging activities in our BABY and TODDLER classes, we have playtime magic covered.
Through play, encouragement, and teaming up with parents and guardians, our Clamber Club franchisees are on a mission to nurture well-rounded, confident individuals. Each playtime is a thrilling adventure, with these strategies to support bilateral integration are built in to the session through fun!
#bilateralIntegration #CrossLateralMovement #BrainDevelopment #OccupationalTherapy #SensoryIntegration #MotorSkills #ChildDevelopment #LearningThroughPlay #ChildGrowth #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #ClamberClub #ClamberClubFranchises