End on a Healthy Note...By Woodside O.T., Mrs. Piccirillo

When students can use both sides of their body in a coordinated way, it is called bilateral coordination or bilateral integration.  If a student has challenges with bilateral coordination, they may opt to use one hand for tasks that require two, or attempt to use both hands in an awkward manner.  You may notice a student with bilateral coordination challenges struggle with catching a ball, tying shoelaces, using a knife and fork, using buttons, cutting with scissors, putting beads on a string as well as gross motor movements such as jumping, skipping and riding a bike.  Students often learn to coordinate both arms together (catching a ball) before coordination both legs (jumping), and ultimately learn to coordinate arms and legs all at once (jumping jacks). Symmetrical movements (clapping to a beat) can be easier to learn than asymmetrical movements (cutting with scissors).  The student may also have trouble with vestibular processing and need movement such as bouncing on a trampoline, log rolling or going down a slide to stimulate their vestibular system to help with bilateral coordination (you can talk with the OT about this for an individual student). Some ways you can help a student practice bilateral coordination is to roll balls of play-dough using both hands, shake maracas to create music, shift a Slinkey between both hands, jump over a rope on the ground, and play catch with a large ball that requires both hands to catch and toss.  More info here: