What is Bilateral Coordination?
What does the term bilateral coordination mean?
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:
6-12 months:
Hold/carry large ball with both hands
9-10 months:
Holds an object in each hand and bang them together
10 months:
Holds object in one hand and the other hand will manipulate the object
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
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
If you or your family have concerns about your child’s development, check with your pediatrician to see what steps may need to be taken. This may include a referral to an occupational therapist or another specialist who can support your child and their development.
For any other questions, please feel free to reach out via email at aubrey@collaborativecorner.org. A timely response will be provided within 24 hours.
Aubrey Kohler, OTR/L, DRS
Occupational Therapist
aubrey@collaborativecorner.org