Bilateral skills (using 2 hands together) develop early on- babies often hold something in each hand and bang them together in front of them. Developmentally, babies then start to hold something stationary in one hand while using the other hand to manipulate it or to do something else with the working hand (think of a baby holding a toy in one hand while using the other to explore and manipulate it). Then, they progress to using both hands at the same time to do different movements (think of a toddler pounding a toy hammer with one hand while reaching to grab another toy with the other). Some early indicators that your child may have not developed good bilateral skills may be if your child skipped the crawling phase, was a late walker, or seems generally uncoordinated. If a child has difficulty with bilateral skills, they can also have difficulty with balance, using their 2 eyes together efficiently and have difficulty using both hands together in a coordinated manner. It could also affect their language skills.
Bilateral activities include any activity that requires the use of 2 hands or both sides of the body to complete:
- hold a bowl with one hand and stir with a spoon to mix
- hold/stabilize a cup with one hand and pour from another container into it
- scoop up sand/rice/beans/toys with 2 hands together and fill up a bucket or container
- lace a lacing card
- cutting tasks- hold the paper in one hand while cutting with the other
- paper punch activities
- crunching up tissue paper to use for an art project, or crunch up scrap paper or newspaper into a ball and throw into a basket
- gluing tasks (with a glue stick or liquid glue)- apply glue to paper and use other hand to place another piece of paper or item (such as a pompon) on the glue spot
- tear paper
- play with a wind up toy (hold in one hand while winding it up with the other)
- complete a wrapping task- wrap yarn around a cut out shape of cardstock
- stringing beads
- playing with link together toys, like legos or pop beads
- drumming
- riding a trike/bike
- tracing stencils or tracing around your hand
- spread frosting or peanut butter on a cracker
- jump rope
- animal walks/crawling
- catching a ball
- carrying a tray or boxes with 2 hands
- stabilize a piece of paper with one hand/forearm while coloring or printing with the other
- clapping- clap hands together to pop bubbles in the air
- jumping jacks
- completing fasteners and self help tasks- buttoning, snapping, zipping, tying shoes, putting clothing on
- opening and closing containers- unscrewing and taking lids off of containers
- rolling out play dough or cookies using a rolling pin, rolling out a snake or roll into a ball
- skipping, galloping, going up and down the stairs or climbing a ladder
- playing on playground equipment incorporates numerous bilateral movements
