Jumping is a gross motor skill that most children love to practice. Jumping has many benefits for your child including helping him/her to:

· Coordinate both sides of his body

· Control bending and straightening movements of the hips and knees

· Develop strength and power in the hip, knee, and ankle muscles

· Develop speed and agility

· Develop confidence in motor abilities

1. First practice bouncing up and down on a springy surface (such as a mini-trampoline or sofa cushion). You may initially need to bounce your child supporting him under his armpits. When he is ready to try to bounce himself, provide hand support. Your child’s hips and knees should bend instead of remaining extended. Encourage bouncing for more repetitions. When your child can bounce, prompt him to bounce more vigorously so that his feet push into the springy surface and he gets more lift. Some children may need to practice standing and bouncing on tip-toes in preparation for jumping.

2. Next practice jumping on a springy surface. Model this, exaggerating your feet lifting off of the surface. Then assist your child to progress from bouncing to jumping by holding him under his armpits or at his hands. Continue providing hand support as he learns to jump consistently, clearing his feet from the surface.

3. The next step is jumping on the floor. Model bending both knees together in a slight squat. This is the ready position for jumping. Hold both of your child’s hands and practice bending and straightening the knees and moving onto tip-toes. Your child will be able to jump when he can push off the floor strongly enough to lift his body. When he can do this with both hands held, practice jumping without hand support.

4. A fun way to gain strength for jumping is to sit and bounce on a “Hoppity Hop Ball”.

When your child can jump in place, intermediate jumping skills include jumping forward and jumping down from a height. Ideas include:

1. Jumping forward:

· Start by holding your child’s hands and gently pulling him forward as he jumps up. As he learns to jump forward independently, use targets such as carpet squares or shapes with various numbers, colors, or designs. Start with the targets close together and move them farther apart as jumping distance improves. Also try jumping in and out of a hula hoop placed on the ground.

· Play the game “Jump the Creek”. Make an almost triangular shaped creek out of a sheet or old piece of cloth. The “creek” should have a 90° angle so that the distance to jump over the creek is very short at one end (~4”) and up to 36” at the other. Place objects in the creek such as bean bags. Practice jumping over the creek starting at the easy end and working up to the more difficult end.

· Place jumping targets in a row. Jump forward in sequence from target to target. This is a very important skill because it helps to teach a child not to land with his knees locked in extension but rather to land with knees slightly bent in the ready position for the next jump.

· Jump in sequence from one location to another (for example from one play area to another).

· Stretch a jump rope out in a line on the floor. Place one foot on each side of the rope and jump in sequence the length of the rope.

2. Jumping down (must be able to jump forward first)

· Jump off of low stable surfaces. Begin with a 1-2” height such as a large hard cover book. Start with hands held and then fade assistance. As your child masters jumping from a specific height, gradually increase the height.

· Progress to jumping off stable objects in the natural environment such as curbs or the bottom step of a flight of stairs until your child can jump from a 6 - 8” height.

When your child is ready for more advanced jumping skills, try the following:

Jumping backwards, sideways, over heights, up onto heights, and in a pattern

· Stretch out a rope and jump over the rope backwards. Then jump over it sideways.

· Jump over a low row of bean bags or cardboard bricks. As your child progresses, build the row a little higher. Use objects that will not cause the child to trip or fall if he does not clear the height.

· Jump up onto a mat or other low stable surface. Foldable gym mats can be used to vary the height.

· Jump over a rope (stretched out on the floor) in a zig-zag pattern, jumping from side to side from the beginning to the end of the rope. Try jumping with feet together (ankles touching).