How do we move from lying down to sitting up? Or from sitting to standing? We transition from one position to the other. We don’t just magically end up in these positions…unless you’re an infant/ toddler. Most often children are placed into certain positions: placed on their back for a diaper change, placed in a car seat or highchair, etc. Therefore, it is important to help your little one move into and out of different positions especially when you’re playing on the floor or practicing tummy time. This gives them opportunities to explore their environment and develop body awareness, motor planning, and coordination.
Here are a few transitions you can practice:
- Supine (back) to prone (belly): Help your little one start rolling by bending their knee up towards their chest and across their body to facilitate rolling on to their belly. Once on their belly help them prop up on their elbows by lining them up underneath their shoulders. Voila, prone on elbows! Perfect for tummy time. For more help with rolling check out our gross motor program!
- Sidelying to sitting: Starting on their side, place one hand under their armpit that is closest to the ground and the other hand on top of their hip that is away from the ground. Slowly tilt them up into sitting by lifting up with the hand under the armpit and gently giving a downward pressure with the hand on the hip. Check out our sitting gross motor program and this blog!
- Sitting to sidelying: From sitting, gently help them lower down to their side by guiding their hands to one side and slowly slide on to their side. If they need more support assist them underneath their armpit and lower them down.
- Sitting to quadruped (hands and knees): From sitting help guide their hands to one side and their feet to the other so they’re in a side sitting position. You can help stabilize the arm by cupping your hand around their shoulder. As you do this, help them lift their hips up off the ground and over their knees to get into quadruped.
- Quadruped to low kneeling: Starting from hands and knees guide their hips back so their bottom touches their heels. You can help them walk their hands in towards their knees so they rest in their lap.
- Tall kneeling to side sitting: From kneeling without their bottom touching their heels. While facing them, hold their hands and guide them to sit back with their bottom to one side of their feet. You can also help from behind by placing your hands around their waist to help their hips bend and guide them to a side sit.
Make sure to practice going to each side equally in order to promote symmetrical development. What other transitions are you noticing your little one doing?
Also, check out our Developmental Milestones Round-Up for more blogs about all the milestones and check out our YouTube channel where we are creating playlists for each milestone!
