Have you ever watched your child try to balance on one foot, catch a ball, or reach across their body to grab something? These moments might seem simple, but behind the scenes, your child’s brain is doing some pretty complex work.
Movement Builds the Brain
Coordination and balance activities, like the ones listed above, require multiple parts of the brain and body to work together at the same time.
For example, when a child goes to balance on one foot, the cerebellum helps control balance and fine-tune movement. The motor cortex plans and carries out actions to keep your child standing upright. At the same time, the brain is constantly processing sensory input, including what your child sees, hears, and feels in their body (proprioception), to guide movement and adjust in real time. All of this works together to keep your child standing tall!
And when we participate in coordination activities, we support the development of neural pathways in the brain that are involved in focus, working memory, and attention. Together, these skills are essential for learning and academic success.
Cross-Body Movement: A Powerful Tool
One of the most important types of movement for brain development is cross-body movement, which occurs when a child reaches across the midline of their body.
These movements require coordination between both sides of the body and support communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This connection is important for integrating physical movement with higher-level thinking skills.
As these neural pathways develop, children improve not only their physical coordination but also their ability to focus, process information, and solve problems.
Simple activities like crawling games, tossing a ball from one hand to the other, or marching while touching opposite knees can all support cross-body coordination in fun and natural ways.
The Connection to Reading and Learning
Cross-body coordination can even impact reading development.
As communication between the two hemispheres of the brain develops, children are better able to coordinate the visual and motor skills involved in tracking text, which plays a key role in learning to read.
Balance and coordination activities also support the vestibular system, located in the inner ear. This system helps the brain understand movement, balance, and spatial awareness.
The vestibular system works closely with the visual system to support eye tracking, or the ability to smoothly follow words across a page. This is a foundational skill for reading fluency, comprehension, and sustained attention.
Confidence Starts with Movement
As children improve their coordination, they also build confidence.
Being able to move their body with control helps children feel more secure in their environment. Whether it’s climbing, playing, or completing everyday tasks, these skills support independence and a willingness to try new things.
Over time, this confidence carries into learning. Children who feel capable in their bodies are more likely to take on new challenges, persist through difficulty, and engage more fully in academic tasks.
Explore Know Yourself Academy
Want to help your child strengthen these essential brain-body connections? Explore our free resource designed to help children practice balance and cross-body coordination through simple, engaging activities they can start today.
Looking for more ways to support your child’s growth? Know Yourself Academy offers a wide range of courses and resources designed to keep kids engaged, appropriately challenged, and excited to continue to explore how their bodies and brains work together.
Leave a comment (all fields required)