Why we think the tandem boards...
Authors: Hanneke Geerts & Sanne Peters
Hanneke Geerts: Pediatric physiotherapist and founder of Breinprikkels
Sanne Peters: Pediatric physiotherapist and founder of Breinprikkels
...should be present in every kindergarten class!
Symmetry phase
Between the ages of two and a half and about six years old, children go through the symmetry phase. During this phase, children practice working together with both legs and both hands. They do this by making movements with their arms or legs simultaneously and in the same pattern.
Important for development
This symmetry phase is incredibly important for the development of the central nervous system. The right side of our body is controlled by our left brain and the left side of our body is controlled by the right brain. When both hands make the same movement at the same time, these left and right brain hemispheres start working together. Through frequent cooperation of both brain hemispheres, an increasingly stronger connection is created between these halves.
Strong connections
The stronger this connection is made at a young age, the more comfortable a child will feel and the easier it will be to learn. Children are also more stable on a social-emotional level when the cooperation between both hemispheres of the brain has been established well.
By practicing with the tandem boards, these two brain halves are put to work, they have to work together! In addition, eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills and concentration are also practiced.
We are fans!
Working with these tandem boards in practice proves to be very effective and children enjoy them. That is why we also recommend these tandem boards in our movement method Breinprikkels to schools that may want to purchase materials for their (lower grades) class. We are fans!
