Delay in crossing the midline - almost 7 year old

[Coldcoffeekindamorning]

I noticed in another post that someone mentioned something called "delay in crossing the midline" and I was wondering if any other OP have had experience of this and what can help?

For context DD will turn 7 years old in a few months time. As a baby I noticed she found fine motor skills difficult. I put this down to her focusing on her gross motor skills as she has always been very physical and developed very quickly here.

When she reached 3-4 years old I noticed that she didn't enjoy colouring in and struggled with beads etc. She didnt enjoy and wouldn't do it. When she started school at 5 years old I noticed she was ambidextrous, she would start writing with her left hand and half way through would swap to her right hand (when she got to the centre of her body). She would would often write whole words (including letters) backwards. When reading she struggles to focus on following the sentence and it would be almost like her brain was skipping ahead desperate to get the next thing. I asked the school about this and her teacher said it didnt fit with dyslexia but there was definitely something there but nothing was followed up on.

DD is very bright, eager to learn and doesn't struggle as such in school. I do worry that there might be an underlying issue though. She still struggles to colour in neatly, will use her right hand more when writing now but when drawing will use both hands (at the same time sometimes especially when colouring in), still will sometimes write words (and letters) backwards (not as often as before). Still skips ahead and jumps around when reading.

Other things I've noticed are she can't sit still and moves around constantly when doing an activity at a table. She also gets very very upset putting on her shoes (opposite sides?). After school she is more often than not very emotional and exhausted.

I am obviously going to speak to her teacher (she has a new one this year). But is there anything else I should do or be aware of or look out for?

I’ve read your post and I think the Teacher may be wrong and I’d be pushing for a dyslexia assessment but I’m a bit unsure what crossing the midline means?

I would seek a referral to an Occupational Therapist (OT), or pay privately if you can afford to.
You may consider it too “woo”, but also look into retained reflex therapy.

Agree with PP re second opinion on dyslexia screening (ask to speak to the school SENDCO) and also on seeking an OT assessment if you can.
Crossing the midline is an important developmental skill that’s used in lots of different movements. There are some helpful insta accounts which explain sensory integration etc in bite size chunks like tiny.hands.ot and theplayful.therapist

Do you have any links to the insta accounts? She's always been such an emotional child and now I wonder if this is what has been going on. I feel like I've failed her somehow like I should have done more when she was a baby to develop this.

Do you know who to go to for the OT assessment? The school? The GP? Her HV? Can you tell me more? I literally just stumbled upon this term by accident and there doesn't seem to be anything about it on the NHS website. I'm a bit worried about diving into a google rabbit hole...

Is there something that stands out that makes you think it might be dyslexia apart from writing backwards? Her teachers seem to think it's not but then she is very keen to read and write and her memory is amazing.

In theory it should be a referral from the GP to an NHS paediatric OT. But in most parts of the country the waitlists are insanely long. So if you can afford it, a private assessment could be an option. If not I’d try to GP (but prepare to be fobbed off) and otherwise check out those insta links as they give lots of ideas of activities you can do at home to help support.

From what you’ve described I’m thinking that dyspraxia may be a possibility. The issue with crossing the midline is around proprioception, which is understanding where your body is in space.
I agree that an OT assessment would be a great place to start. Speak with the GP and the SENDCO. But as others have said wait lists are very long so if you can afford to go private then I would.

Yes, I do this and have dyslexia. I can also read upside down and write backwards and would often miss words out when writing at School.