Picture a figure eight lying on its side. Some know this as the infinity sign, but around here we like to call it the “lazy eight.” It’s a familiar symbol, and yet few people know how valuable it is for learning and brain integration. According to Brain Gym, drawing lazy eights helps improve the visual attention and eye motility needed for reading smoothly across the midline. To begin, have your child align his/her body with a point at eye level. Then guide the child in drawing a lazy eight, beginning the pattern up and to the left. This may be done best on a white board or chalk board, though it can be done while sitting down and drawing on paper provided that the middle of the page is parallel to the belly button, as it is important to cross the body’s mid-line when drawing the figure.
The goal is for the child to keep his/her hand smooth and steady during drawing and to follow the movement of the lazy 8 with his/her eyes. You can guide your student through this process until he/she gains the level of mastery needed to successfully do so on his/her own. You will have the child trace the lazy 8 figure three times with the right hand, three times with the left hand, and three times with both hands. The movement should be slow and fluid. This is a simple tool and a great exercise to utilize prior to beginning a reading assignment. Keep in mind that this is a learned activity, and your student may not draw the lazy eight perfectly right away. Use questions to guide a discussion with your student about his/her lazy eight. See what he/she notices and decide together what might be a good goal for next time. For instance, a goal could be slowing down or trying to make both sides of the eight equal in size. Your child will gain confidence and precision over time. You can make it fun by using colorful markers or joining your child in the activity. Adults can certainly benefit from the integration provided, as well! Be sure to be on the look out for our next blog: we’ll discuss another exercise based on the amazing lazy 8 – the infinity walk!
