Positioning
It is important to spend time in a variety of positions throughout the day. Here you will find information on a variety of different positions that your child can sit in, play in, or work in. These will help build strength to enable them to improve with other functional skills!
Why look at position during play?
Playtime is work time for children. During play they are practicing gross motor and fine motor skills, developing strength through their arms, legs, and trunk, and working on their cognitive and emotional skills.
For motor development, it is important that your child use a variety of positions while playing. Variety is key to helping develop the full range of strength and muscle control your child needs. Below are some ideas for various ways to engage in play. Your child might need help to change they ways they are used to moving and playing in order to build strength. Be patient with them, it is hard to change!
Sitting Positions
W sitting handout.docxAlternative Positions for W sitting.pdfSitting statically on a pillow or therapy ball
Ball Sitting
Provide input to activate postural muscles
Dynamic sitting, means postural muscles are more active throughout the duration of the activity. Goals may include:
Provide sensory input
Work on strengthening postural muscles
Improve attention and focus
Must have adequate sitting balance, postural responses, and control before attempting, with the direction and guidance of your child’s physical therapist
Development of this skill: begins with a wide base of support (feet apart), which narrows as strength, balance, and postural reactions improve. Long term goal is to sit with a narrow base of support (feet close together).
Wide base of support with feet apart or narrow base of suppr with feet close together
See the videos below for some examples.
As always, please do this activity, only if it is safe you and your child. Contact your therapist for specific questions.
Postural Support
Postural Support.docxFloor Time
Belly Time.pdfFloor Time Activities.pdfQuadraped
1) On the floor, get on all 4's. If you can, place your knees directly under hips and your hands directly under your shoulders to start. Assist your child to get into this position as best they can. You may support him around the trunk, and may have to help to position their arms and legs. If possible, try to open up their fingers, so their hands are flat on the floor.
2) Try to hold this position for 1-2 minutes at a time, or as long as they can. This may only be a few seconds, and that is okay.
3) You can have a toy, puzzle, paper and crayons, or other activity placed on the floor in front of them. Have them reach with one arm/hand to engage in the activity, take a break, and then have them reach with the other arm or hand.
4) Variation: Place your child over a therapy ball, foam roller, pillows, or other similar object for an additional challenge.
5) For an even bigger challenge, have your child place their knees, hands, or both on pillows or a piece of foam to challenge their balance and core strength even more.
See the videos below for some examples.
As always, please do this activity, only if it is safe you and your child. Contact your therapist for specific questions.