GM.A.30 ON TUMMY, SEMI-ROLLS TO SIDE TO REACH FOR A TOY

This skill is a progression from GM.A.27. Now the child has enough control at her shoulder girdle to lean right over on one side without collapsing. She uses her balance skills to prevent herself from rolling onto her back. When she does this, she curves her head and her trunk towards the side to which she is reaching, thus making her weight-bearing side her longer side.

She is now also able to bend her top leg up while she straightens her arms. This is definite progress, needed for crawling and walking.

How to Assess

Method: Place your child on her tummy, with interesting toys just out of her reach. Score plus if she shifts her weight onto one side, curves her trunk towards the side to which she is reaching (away from the weight-bearing side) and obtains the toy. She will bend the top leg as she does this.

How to Teach

If your child is having difficulty with this skill, go back and make sure that she can manage the exercises described in GM.A.20, GM.A.21, GM.A.25 and GM.A.27. It is most important that her balance skills are well developed.

Once she is competent with these earlier skills, try this exercise. You will need a surface that can be tilted, such as a large beach ball or a balance board (a rectangular board on rockers). Place your child on her tummy on the surface, tilt her to the side, wait for her to adjust her posture so that she is well balanced and then offer her a favourite toy.

Positioning, Carrying and Playing

Give her plenty of time to practise her skills on the floor. Put her toys where she must work to get them or she will have no incentive to reach out.

Continue to carry your baby as described in GM.A.25. Continue also to put your baby down as described in GM.A.20. To pick her up, continue as in GM.A.17 – from side lying, assist her into a side sitting position, both her hands on the surface in front of her, then lift.

A new put down position is similar to the one above and will prepare her to get into and out of crawling. Place her down onto her arms and one thigh, but this time the ankles are not crossed, one foot is placed well in front – again knee to the sky. Rotate her back onto her other thigh, but give her minimal help at her hips to get back to sitting.