{"id":3434,"date":"2026-01-15T21:51:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T21:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/?p=3434"},"modified":"2026-01-15T22:58:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T22:58:45","slug":"make-writing-easy-with-two-simple-exercises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/?p=3434","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Make Writing Easy With Two Simple Exercises"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Make-Writing-Easy-With-Two-Simple-Exercises-1170x250.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>I was helping my granddaughter with the papers in her school folder this past weekend. Two of the letters she was to learn to write and recognize were p and d.&nbsp; Both of these letters require a student to be able to recognize left and right directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two Brain Gym<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>&nbsp;exercises that can be beneficial to help a student know their directions are Lazy 8 and Cross Crawl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:26% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"495\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/lazy-8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2606 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/lazy-8.png 495w, https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/lazy-8-300x263.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Lazy 8s<\/strong>&nbsp;are done by drawing an \u201c8\u201d that is lying on its side.&nbsp; The student starts the Lazy 8 in the center, drawing up to the left.&nbsp; Variations of this exercise include using the right, left and both hands together.&nbsp; Lazy 8s can be drawn in any sizes.&nbsp; The student may also use various writing utensils such as pens, crayons, colored pencils, paint, etc.&nbsp; Lazy 8s relax the muscles of the eyes, neck, and shoulders while focusing and improve eye-muscle coordination.&nbsp; Lazy 8s also help the student recognize symmetry and improves depth perception.&nbsp; The Lazy 8s or infinity symbol integrates the right and left visual fields, enabling the reader to cross the midline without interruption.&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.options-center.com\/pdf\/helens%20book\/sections\/section_3.PDF\">Source:&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Alternative Health Care, Space Age Interpretations of Age-Old Truths,<\/em>&nbsp;M. Press. 1994. pg. 143. http:\/\/www.options-center.com\/pdf\/helens%20book\/sections\/section_3.PDF<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Cross Crawling<\/strong>&nbsp;gets both eyes working together and enhances coordination and spatial awareness.&nbsp; It improves vision and hearing as well as breathing and fitness.&nbsp; It activates the brain for crossing the visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile midline, improving left to right eye movements and binocular (both eyes together) vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cross crawl also helps with such academic skills as spelling, writing, listening, reading, and comprehension by activating both brain hemispheres simultaneously and is potentially the best warm up for all skills which require crossing the midline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cross-Crawling.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"399\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cross-Crawling.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2607\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7838992750858451;width:261px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cross-Crawling.png 399w, https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cross-Crawling-235x300.png 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Procedure:&nbsp; While sitting or standing, lift one leg and touch knee with opposite hand. Repeat with other leg and its opposite hand in rhythmic cadence, back and forth.&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.options-center.com\/pdf\/helens%20book\/sections\/section_3.PDF\">Source:&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Alternative Health Care, Space Age Interpretations of Age-Old Truths,<\/em>&nbsp;M. Press. 1994. pg. 141.<\/a>&nbsp;http:\/\/www.options-center.com\/pdf\/helens%20book\/sections\/section_3.PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For your information, I would be happy to discuss with you these exercises and any other Brain Gym\u00ae exercises.&nbsp; My email address is&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:options@mtco.com\">options@mtco.com<\/a>. My website is&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.options-center.com\/\">www.options-center.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Partnering with you to make learning easy and fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yours on the journey,<br>Helen<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div><p id=\"pvc_stats_3434\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"3434\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p><div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I was helping my granddaughter with the papers in her school folder this past weekend. Two of the letters she was to learn to write and recognize were p and d.&nbsp; Both of these letters require a student to be able to recognize left and right directions. Two Brain Gym\u00ae&nbsp;exercises that can be beneficial to &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/?p=3434\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_3434\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"3434\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/options-center.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,3],"tags":[31,32],"class_list":["post-3434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education-topic","category-featured","tag-education","tag-student","nodate","item-wrap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3434"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3439,"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434\/revisions\/3439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/options-center.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}