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When a baby crawls, a child walks or climbs they are using cross-patterning skills. Cross-patterning skills are those skills that require different sides of the body to move in coordination with one another. These skills will eventually be used in reading and learning activities; so it's important to help your child develop them.

You can start when you bring your baby home. Gently take his left leg and touch it to his right arm and then do the opposite. This not only helps with the cross-patterning it also helps the child loosen those muscles that have been tightened into a ball for 9 months.

When the baby starts to get up on his knees and rocks back and forth; put a brightly colored toy just out of reach. As he stretches to get the toy he learns how to crawl.

As the baby grows into a toddler, you can find many more ways to encourage the development of these skills. Get him one of those toddler jungle gyms. You use cross-patterning skills when you climb. Most physical activities require coordination of opposite body parts. So encourage the child to be active.

Later you can enroll your child in peewee activities like gymnastics, dance, soccer, swimming and t-ball all of these things help the child develop cross-patterning skills.

Cross-patterning is using both sides of the body in coordination to one another. When you walk you move your right arm when you move your left leg. We generally learn these skills on our own but as a parent you can help by encouraging your child to be active .

Learn more about this author, Cynthia Harlan.
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