In this video, we talk about the incredible developmental benefits of encouraging our children to play on a diagonal while sitting.

This simple activity lays the groundwork for essential skills and supports the natural progression of the developmental sequence.

When our children play in this position, they gain:

• The Ability to Cross Midline: This movement strengthens the connection between the brain’s right and left hemispheres, fostering better coordination and bilateral integration.

• Right/Left Dissociation: Playing on a diagonal teaches our children to move one side of their body independently of the other.

• Upper Body/Lower Body Dissociation: Weight bearing and shifting on lower body while moving the upper body improves balance, posture, and overall motor control.

• Visual Motor Integration Across the Midline: This activity enhances eye-hand coordination and tracking, critical for skills like reading, writing, and catching a ball later on. Integrating Visual Motor information across midline greatly enhances the motor plans for movement, praxis.

• Reflex Integration: Crossing the midline through diagonal play helps integrate primitive reflexes, which is a key step toward achieving developmental sequencing skills like transitioning to quadruped, tall and ½ kneel and finally stand – as well as it’s necessity to crawling, walking, and running.

The great news is there is no age limit, the brain in plastic. If your child or teen moves stiffly, or has a hard time with tasks such as dressing themselves, tying shoes, spelling, or reading comprehension, work with them on crossing midline.

As parents of babies, we can use this activity to encourage purposeful, playful movement that helps our children develop these foundational skills. Watch the video to see how easy it is to incorporate diagonal play into everyday routines and how it supports properly organized development.