Keep Crossing That Midline!

Children's brains are fascinating.  While research has led to more information about how children grow, learn, and perceive the world around them, there is still much to learn.  What has been learned so far has helped to shape the world of early childhood education, to eliminate some old ideas about what is good for children, and to reinforce the knowledge that grandma was pretty smart after all.

The new research tells us that children learn when their bodies are engaged as well as their brains, that they need time to run and explore to process what they see and feel, and that their brains will grow stronger if they cross their midline often.  Midline?  Draw an imaginary line (feel free to use a marker if you like!) from the top of your head down to the tip of your nose to your bellybutton and end between your feet.  This is your midline.  Crossing the midline encourages the two halves of your brain to work together.  Crossing the midline occurs during normal development - picture a baby crawling - and can be further encouraged during play.

We used to march in gym.  Since I am rhythmically challenged, I hated it.  It seemed pointless and boring.  Little did I know that Mr. Murphy was helping my brain to grow.  Encourage your children to march around the room or to the playground.  Singing and dancing are excellent ways to cross the midline.  The Hokey Pokey (don't forget that you can put in your elbows, tongue, nose, knees, tummy..., Wild Bananas, Tooty Ta, and Father Abraham are all examples of fun songs and chants that cross the midline.  Encourage your child to reach across the midline by handing him something from his non dominant side.  Crossing the midline with the lower limbs has an even more beneficial effect.  Have your child lie back on his elbows (you do it, too!  It will encourage your child and strengthen your abs.) and do "The Wheels on the Bus" or "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" with his feet.  (Note to providers:  Be sure that you tell the parents that you are doing songs with your feet.  I have had parents tell me that they were singing about the spider when their child suddenly lay back and started kicking at them.)  Dance to rock and roll music and twirl while holding your child's right hand in your right hand.  Challenge your child to color or draw with the non dominant hand.  Tape a paintbrush to a hat brim and have your child paint while wearing the hat.  There are many ways to cross the midline - use your imagination! 

For the past seven or so years I have been learning more about brain function, growth, and crossing the midline.  Now I am reading about crossing the midline as a way to help strengthen the brain in adults and to help prevent dementia.  While your child is crossing the midline, cross yours, also!

Tooty Ta is a chant.  Start with thumbs up and chant the words while moving your hands in a sideways figure eight in front of you.  For the next verse, say thumbs up and the next command, followed by the tooty ta chant.  Follow the pattern until the end.

Tooty Ta

Tooty ta, tooty ta, tooty ta ta

Thumbs up

Tooty ta, tooty ta, tooty ta ta

Wrists together

Elbows back

Feet apart

Knees together

Bottoms up

Tongue out

Eyes shut

Turn around