Bilateral Coordination

Bilateral means "both sides." Bilateral coordination is using both sides of the body together in an activity. Many daily self-care and play activities require bilateral coordination skills.

Age Expectations

Bilateral coordination is needed for children to develop and improve other motor skills. It allows them to engage in activities that require both sides of their brain. In doing so, children can perform a lot of tasks more easily.

6-12 months:

  • Hold/carry large ball with both hands

9-10 months:

  • Holds an object in each hand and bang them together

17-18 months:

  • Stabilize an object in one hand and manipulate or activates the object in the other hand using both hands simultaneously for different actions

  • Prefers to walk instead of crawl, but falls frequently

2 years:

  • Throw a ball forward while maintaining their balance

  • Stabilize a dish during spoon-feeding

  • Starts learning how to run and jump, may stand on one foot and kick the ball with the other

  • Begins to pedal a tricycle

10 months:

  • Holds object in one hand and the other hand will manipulate the object

3 years:

  • Cuts on a line

  • Stabilize paper during coloring or writing

  • Hold paper during cutting

  • Throw ball at a target and project the ball ~3 feet forward

  • Catch a medium sized ball

  • Can jump from step to step and pedals a tricycle

4 years:

  • Cut simple shapes

  • Child walks up/down stairs alternating feet

  • Catch a tennis ball

5 years:

  • Throw a ball overhand to hit a target about 5 feet away

6+ years:

  • Complex cutting skills

  • Manipulate paper during cutting

  • Throw a ball overhand to hit a target 12 feet away

  • Run with speed, hop/skip, throw a ball a long distance and catch with accuracy

  • Cut with a fork and knife

Activities That Involve Bilateral Coordination

Gross Motor Activities:

  • Jumping 

  • Skipping 

  • Riding a bike 

  • Playing catch 

  • Swimming

  • Playing drums

  • Pushing and pulling heavy weight 

Fine Motor Activities:

  • Tying shoes

  • Threading beads 

  • Using knife and fork

  • Cutting with scissors

  • Buttons

  • Lacing activities

  • Using a ruler to draw

Rolling out dough for play or cooking (cooking is a great activity for bilateral coordination)

Catching a ball

Clapping

Holding a book, flipping pages

Connecting / separation activities - legos, pop beads

Musical shakers

Threading beads

Action songs / games - wheels on the bus, simon says

Jumping jacks

Activities To Work On Bilateral Coordination

Helpful Links

Bilateral Coordination: What It Is, Why It's Important, and How To Teach It

Bilateral coordination, also known as bilateral integration, develops naturally in children as their brains develop; however, it can be difficult for children with disabilities to develop this skill because they often lack opportunities or are not challenged enough by their environment. This blog post will discuss what bilateral coordination is and why it's important for kids' development. You'll also be given strategies on how you can teach bilateral coordination in your classroom, plus how to integrate Twinkl activities! Keep on reading!

What is Bilateral Coordination?

Simply put, this term means your ability to utilize both sides of your body together to complete an activity. This may mean that both sides are performing actions together, or performing an activity with different movements on either side. Bilateral coordination allows children to perform activities such as buttoning a shirt, tying shoelaces, cutting their food, catching a ball, running, or climbing the stairs.

Here are some examples of developmental milestones for bilateral coordination.

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