40 Bilateral Coordination Activities that Boost Your Child’s Overall Skills

Have you ever wondered why some people find it easy to tie their shoes or button their shirts while others struggle?

The answer lies in bilateral coordination – the ability to use both sides of your body in a coordinated and synchronized manner. It’s a fundamental skill for everyday activities like writing, eating, and playing sports. 

In this guide, we’ll explore bilateral coordination and why it’s essential and provide 40 fun activities to improve it!

Amazing Bilateral Coordination Activities

Juggling

Who needs a circus when you can become a juggling pro at home? Start with two balls; before you know it, you’ll be a juggling superstar with hands that move faster than lightning!

Hopscotch

Step up your game with some old-school hopscotch! Not only will you get a great workout, but you’ll also channel your inner artist as you draw out the squares.

Simon Says

Simon says, “Get up and get moving!” Follow the leader and use both sides of your body to keep up. It’s like a dance party but with cognitive benefits!

Jumping Jacks

Jump your way to a stronger core and better coordination. Who says exercise has to be boring? Spice it up with some jumping jacks!

Balloon Volleyball

Grab a balloon and your friends, and get ready to improve your coordination and teamwork skills. It’s like regular volleyball but way more fun (and less painful if you get hit in the face).

Dance

Dancing isn’t just for parties and weddings; it’s also a great way to improve coordination and balance. Whether taking a class or dancing in your living room, just let loose and groove!

Twister

Twist and shout with this classic game that will improve your flexibility and coordination. It’s like a game of human Tetris!

Painting

Embrace your inner Picasso and improve your fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination with some painting. Try out different brushes and colors to challenge yourself and let your creativity run wild!

Yoga

Find your zen and improve your balance, coordination, and flexibility with some yoga poses and sequences. Namaste, coordination!

Finger Painting

Get your hands dirty (in a good way!) with some finger painting. It’s a fun way to improve your fine motor skills and bilateral coordination while unleashing your inner artist. Pro tip: remember the smock!

Hula Hooping

Make that hoop twirl around your body like a boss, and work on your coordination while feeling like a superstar. Plus, you’ll get a killer workout for your abs and hips!

Scavenger Hunt

Get your Sherlock Holmes on and use your hands to hunt for treasures while improving your coordination and problem-solving skills. You never know what you might find, so prepare for a fun adventure!

Bouncing a Ball

Catch and throw that ball like a pro while training your hands and eyes to work together in perfect harmony. And remember to show off your trick shots!

Water Balloon Toss

Splash around with your friends and work on your coordination and communication skills while trying not to get soaked. It’s a great way to beat the heat and have some fun!

Origami

Fold your way to better coordination and agility by creating stunning paper art with your hands. And who knows, you might discover a hidden talent for paper folding!

Skipping 

Jump, hop, and skip to better coordination and a healthier heart while feeling like a kid again. And you don’t need a rope, just two feet!

Tug of War

Put your hands together and pull that rope like a boss while improving your coordination and teamwork skills. Just keep your balance, or you might end up on your backside!

Clapping Games

Follow the beat and slap those hands together while challenging your coordination and memory skills. It’s a great way to show off your rhythm and have fun with friends!

Musical Chairs

Move around the chairs with both hands and feet like a dancing queen while improving your coordination and reaction time. And who knows, you might even win the game and earn some bragging rights!

Building Blocks

Stack and knock them down while improving your hand-eye coordination and creativity skills like a true architect. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box and build something crazy and unique!

Catching Bugs

Time to put on your explorer hat and catch those creepy crawlies with both hands! Not only will you boost your coordination, but you’ll also feel like a fearless adventurer as you hunt down your prey.

Hiking

Ready for an adventure? Take a walk on the wild side on different terrains and elevations to test your balance and coordination. Feel like a true explorer as you trek through forests and climb mountains and Ford streams.

Play-Doh

Get your hands dirty and create some awesome designs with Play-Doh. Squish, mold, and shape your way to better coordination, creativity, and fine motor skills.

And who knows, you can make some extraordinary sculptures to impress your friends.

Ball Toss

Channel your inner athlete and show off your skills with a ball. Catch and throw like a pro with both hands and improve your hand-eye coordination while feeling like a superstar.

Whether playing catch or shooting hoops, you will have a blast.

Paddle Ball

Keep that ball bouncing back and forth with both hands, and impress everyone with your coordination, reflexes, and concentration. Feel like a ping pong master as you keep that ball in the air and show off your skills.

Jump Rope

It’s time to jump to the beat and get your heart pumping like a kid again! Jumping rope improves your coordination and gives you a great cardiovascular workout.

So put on some tunes, grab a string, and get ready to rock out!

Playing Instruments

Ready to unleash your inner rockstar? Jam out with different notes and rhythms using both hands and improve your coordination, cognitive skills, and musical talents. You might even start your band!

Bowling

Roll those balls down the lane and knock down those pins to improve your coordination and have fun with friends.

Whether a bowling pro or a beginner, this activity will bring out your competitive side and make you feel like a winner.

Stacking Cups

Ready to build something extraordinary? Challenge yourself to stack cups in different patterns and designs using fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. And who knows, you’ll even discover a hidden talent for architecture.

Ring Toss

Step right up and take a shot at the prize! Aim for those poles and toss those rings with both hands like a carnival game champ.

Improve your hand-eye coordination and concentration while feeling like a winner. So get ready to show off your skills and win some prizes!

Crawling

Get down on all fours and crawl on different surfaces and elevations like a wild animal to improve your coordination.

Whether you’re crawling on a smooth floor or a bumpy carpet, you’ll feel like a fearless explorer as you traverse new terrains and improve your bilateral coordination.

Trampoline

Jump and bounce like a kangaroo on a trampoline to improve your coordination and balance while getting a good cardio workout.

Whether practicing your flips or just having fun bouncing around, you’ll feel like a superstar athlete as you improve your coordination and fitness.

Memory Games

Test your memory and cognitive skills by playing games that require you to remember patterns, numbers, or words.

Whether playing memory-matching games or mental arithmetic, you’ll feel like a detective cracking codes as you improve your cognitive skills and memory.

Puzzles

Challenge your brain and improve your cognitive skills by completing puzzles of different difficulty levels.

Whether you’re putting together a jigsaw puzzle or solving a crossword puzzle, you’ll feel like a mastermind as you improve your problem-solving and cognitive skills.

Meditation

Improve your focus and concentration by practicing mindfulness meditation.

Whether breathing deeply or just zoning out, you’ll feel like a Zen master as you improve your focus and concentration and reduce stress.

Playing Video Games

Let your little gaming gurus level up their hand-eye coordination and reflexes by diving into games that require quick reactions, like platformers, first-person shooters, or racing games.

Watch as they become video game champions, feeling the thrill of the challenge and the excitement of improving their gaming skills and coordination.

Playing Sports

Time to get your mini-athletes into the game and challenge their coordination and reflexes with team or individual sports like basketball, soccer, tennis, or gymnastics.

Whether dribbling a ball or flipping on a mat, they’ll feel like a superstar athlete as they improve their coordination, reflexes, and athletic abilities.

Reading

Let’s ignite your little ones’ imaginations and expand their knowledge by reading books or articles challenging their understanding and vocabulary.

From classic novels to the latest scientific discoveries, they’ll feel like a literary wizard as they improve their cognitive skills and vocabulary.

Cooking

Who says cooking is only for adults? Get your mini chefs in the kitchen, help them sharpen their knife skills, and improve their hand-eye coordination while whipping up a gourmet meal.

From chopping veggies to sautéing like a pro, they’ll feel like a culinary genius creating delicious, mouth-watering dishes.

Sewing 

Unleash your kids’ creativity and hone their hand-eye coordination with some sewing fun.

Whether sewing a cute outfit or creating a one-of-a-kind quilt, they’ll feel like a fashionista extraordinaire as they improve their sewing skills and unleash their imagination. So let’s get creative and have some fun!

Benefits of Improving Bilateral Coordination

Improved Fine Motor Skills:

Bilateral coordination improves the fine motor skills necessary for everyday activities like tying shoes, buttoning shirts, and using utensils.

Improved Hand-Eye Coordination:

Bilateral coordination improves hand-eye coordination for sports, driving, and typing.

Improved Balance:

Bilateral coordination improves balance and stability, reducing the risk of falls and injuries.

Improved Cognitive Skills:

Bilateral coordination improves cognitive skills like attention, memory, and problem-solving.

Improved Self-Confidence:

Improving bilateral coordination can increase self-confidence and self-esteem, allowing individuals to participate in activities more confidently and successfully.

Improved Social Skills:

Many activities that improve bilateral coordination are social, enhancing social skills, and promoting teamwork.

Improved Overall Health:

Bilateral coordination through physical activity can improve overall health by reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting cardiovascular fitness.

Improving bilateral coordination is essential for everyday activities and overall health. By incorporating these 40 activities into your daily routine, you can improve fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, cognitive skills, self-confidence, social skills, and overall health. Remember to challenge yourself and have fun while doing it!