Dr. Piyush Jain
Dr. Piyush Jain provides pediatric clinical guidance for developmental and neurodevelopmental concerns where appropriate.
Genesis Neurogen Blog
Child Always Kicks or Catches With the Same Side and Seems Clumsy on the Other
संक्षेप में: अगर आपका बच्चा हमेशा एक ही पैर या हाथ से बॉल किक करता है, पकड़ता है, और दूसरी तरफ से करने में काफी अजीब या कमजोर लगता है, तो यह शरीर के दोनों हिस्सों के बीच तालमेल (क्रॉसिंग मिडलाइन) में कमी का संकेत हो सकता है।
Short answer: Most children develop a preferred hand or foot, but a strong, consistent one-sided pattern combined with real difficulty - not just lower preference - performing the same action on the other side can point to a gap in crossing the body's midline and overall motor coordination, which is worth a gross motor assessment rather than assuming it is simply a preference.
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Why a side preference is normal, but a big gap isn't
Nearly every child ends up with a preferred hand or foot for everyday tasks, and that alone is not a concern. What stands out more is a child who is not just less practiced but genuinely clumsy, uncoordinated or avoidant when asked to do the same action - kicking, catching, batting - using the other side.
What this can look like in daily play
It often shows up as a child who kicks confidently with one foot but trips or misses the ball entirely with the other, or who reaches across their body awkwardly instead of simply turning or using the near hand. Parents around Anand Vihar, Savita Vihar have described noticing this clearly during casual games of catch or football in the park.
Why checking this helps
Comfortably crossing the body's midline and coordinating both sides is a building block for many later skills, including some classroom and sports activities, so a clear, ongoing gap is worth looking at directly. See our page on motor skills for more on how this kind of coordination is usually assessed.
Book a motor coordination assessment for your child with our motor skills team. Call 7481909090 or message us on WhatsApp to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't it normal for every child to favour one side?
Yes, having a preferred side is completely normal - what's different here is a large gap in actual ability, not just preference, on the non-dominant side.
Could this improve just by practicing more with the weaker side?
Some improvement can come from practice, but if the gap is large or doesn't close with normal play over time, an assessment can identify whether there's an underlying coordination difficulty.
Is this connected to handwriting or classroom skills at all?
Crossing the midline and bilateral coordination can be connected to some classroom tasks, so it's sometimes worth mentioning alongside any handwriting or desk-work concerns during an assessment.
What would a motor coordination assessment look at for this?
It typically involves simple movement tasks on both sides of the body, observing balance, coordination and how comfortably the child crosses the midline during play.
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Meet the doctors
Useful context about the Genesis Neurogen doctors, so you can understand the wider clinical practice while reading this article.
Dr. Radha Jain
Dr. Radha Jain is the Senior Consultant Gynecologist & Obstetrician within the wider Genesis Neurogen clinical practice. Her women’s-health services are detailed on the main Genesis Neurogen Delhi website.
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