Occupational Therapy -> Bilateral Coordination -> Symmetrical Movements

Symmetrical Movements

Both hands do the same thing at the same time. An example of this would be pulling up pants or socks. Other activities that can work on this skill include: Holding a squeeze bottle with both hands at the midline to paint; Jumping rope; Jumping Jacks; Catching a ball with two hands.

Reference links

  • Bilateral Coordination Activities 1
    www.theottoolbox.com
    Author: The OT Toolbox - These bilateral coordination activities are bilateral movement strategies to help kids demonstrate bimanual coordination skills.
  • Interlimb (Bilateral) Coordination and Academic Performance In Elementary School Children 0
    pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
    Author: Sheila Cristina Da Silva Pacheco 1, Carl Gabbard 2, Lilian Gerdi Kittel Ries 1, Tatiana Godoy Bobbio 3 - There was a significant difference between groups for Total Motor Composite (P < 0.001), favoring the high group. On regression analysis, there was a significant association between academic performance and Body Coordination. Of the subtests of Body Coordination (Bilateral Coordination and Balance), Bilateral Coordination accounted for the highest impact on academic performance. Of interest here, that subtest consists primarily of gross motor tasks involving interlimb coordination. Conclusion: Overall, there was a positive relationship between motor behavior, in particular activities involving interlimb coordination, and academic performance. Application of these findings in the area of early assessment may be useful in the identification of later academic problems.
  • Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity On Anxiety 1
    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
    Author: Elizabeth Anderson1 and Geetha Shivakumar1,2, - Exercise and cognitively based distraction techniques were shown to have equal effectiveness at reducing state anxiety, however, exercise was more effective in reducing trait anxiety (Petruzzello et al., 1991).

Activity List(s)

Goal Bank

  • Dana will demonstrate improved postural stability and cores strength, as evidenced by 30% increase in participation in climb/mount age-appropriate play equipment with modeling and min verbal assistance in 3 /4 trials. 0

Resources

  • Farm Animal Moves preview

    Farm Animal Moves

    Whitney Castle

    Have fun exercising while moving and acting like farm animals! This can be done for so many seconds or minutes or even to music for a game of freeze.

    3

  • Pre Writing Cutting - Spider Web preview

    Pre Writing Cutting - Spider Web

    Krystan Inman

    Cutting builds the muscles in a child's palm and hand during open and close of scissors. Cutting enhances hand-eye coordination. Scissor skills also encourage the child to use bilateral coordinatio...

    1

  • Draw a Ladybug Resource preview

    Draw a Ladybug Resource

    Kimberly Luster, COTA

    Use this resource to draw a ladybug. Drawing and visuospatial skills are important foundational skills for handwriting.

    Includes activity list

    6

  • Super Hero Animal Interval preview

    Super Hero Animal Interval

    Whitney Castle

    Have fun with these animal moves as a great exercise and gross motor activity. This activity can help with sensory/emotional regulation, calming techniques, balance, coordination, and strengthening...

    3