Primary school movement foundations
Crossing the midline: what might teachers notice in the classroom?
Crossing the midline happens when one side of the body moves across the imaginary centre line of the body to work in the space on the opposite side.
It sounds simple, but it is part of many everyday classroom and movement tasks. Children use this skill when they write across a page, reach for objects, climb, dress, throw, catch and coordinate more complex movements.
This is about noticing, not diagnosing
Teachers do not need to assess or diagnose a child's movement development. What you can do is notice patterns and provide more opportunities for children to practise movements that involve both sides of the body.
What might you notice?
Switching hands
A child may change hands when writing, drawing or reaching rather than continuing across the page.
Turning the whole body
Instead of reaching across themselves, they may rotate their trunk or reposition their whole body.
Cross body movements feel difficult
Activities such as opposite hand to knee movements may require much more concentration.
Ball skills are harder
Throwing, catching and reaching across the body can become more demanding when bilateral coordination is still developing.
Climbing looks awkward
Playground activities that require alternating arms and legs may look less coordinated or take longer to organise.
Movement takes extra effort
The child may understand the instruction but still need more time to organise their body to complete the movement.
Simple ways to practise crossing the midline
Crossing the midline does not need to become another formal lesson. It can be included in short movement breaks, classroom games, music, drawing and everyday routines.
Think about movements such as reaching one hand to the opposite knee, drawing large sideways figure eight patterns, moving objects from one side of the body to the other, rhythm patterns that alternate sides and games that involve reaching across the body.
The goal is not perfect performance. Children need repeated opportunities to explore these movements in ways that feel achievable and enjoyable.
Free teacher resource
Crossing the midline checklist
Use this checklist as a quick classroom prompt to help you notice how children are using both sides of their body during everyday tasks and movement.
Open the crossing the midline checklist