GM.A.24 ON BACK, ROLLS TO SIDE, REMAINING ON SIDE TO PLAY

From this stage on, the baby spends more and more time playing on her side. As she gets better at it, she starts to play propped on the side and will use variations of this position for months to come.

In rolling to her side and playing there, the baby starts to use her legs separately. You will notice that she bends her top leg up in front of her.

How to Assess

Method: Place your child on her back. With toys, and your face and voice, encourage her to roll to her side. Score plus if your child rolls, lifting her head away from the surface. She should then lie with the top leg bent up in front of her, separated from the other leg.

How to Teach

Guide your child to roll, if necessary, as described in GM.A.15. Then encourage her to play in the side position, guiding her to keep her top leg bent up, and her ankles crossed.

If your child has difficulty controlling her head during the roll, give more practice in the head control exercises earlier in this sequence.

From now on, it will be of great benefit to your child if you can always think ‘ANKLES CROSSED, one knee to the sky’. This is because in this position the baby’s pelvis and her muscles are set up to all future movement. It automatically means the baby will be using that all-important rotation that ensures quality in all movement.

You will most probably already have been doing this, as described in GM.A.11, GM.A.17, GM.A.20 and GM.A.21.