GM.A.34 SITTING, PUTS STRAIGHT ARMS FORWARD TO AVOID A FALL

It is important that the child learns to use her arms to save herself when her balance is upset in sitting. She learns to do this first to the front.

How to Assess

Method: While your child is sitting unsupported on the floor, tap her gently forward from the back. Score plus if your child places her hands forward on the floor to stop herself from falling.

How to Teach

Kneel and sit back on your heels. Place the child downward along your thighs and place her hands on the floor in front of your knees. Holding her at the hips lean her weight down onto her hands, rotating her hips first to one side, then the other. If she buckles at the elbows, wrap cardboard around her arms and bandage it on so that she can experience the feeling of weight through straight arms.

Another way to teach this is to place her on her tummy over a large beach ball with her arms stretched out above her head. Hold her legs and roll the ball forward until her hands reach the floor or a low table, then lean a little more weight onto her arms, waiting to feel her push on her hands. Again, rotate her hips from side to side.

The child must learn to respond very quickly to a loss of balance, or she will have fallen over before she gets her hands out. Once she is able to put her arms out and take weight through them, help her to develop speed by playing games where you tap her gently off balance. Give her lots of practice.

You have already been preparing your baby for this skill, because over the past couple of months you have always been lowering her down onto her extended arms. You could be more specific now and lower her quite quickly onto her hands (wait until they come forward when you approach the surface). You must remember to lower her with the ‘twist’ in her trunk, so hold her legs across your chest with 1 hand and support under her chest with the other. If she does not bring her arms forward, encourage them with this hand.

Once she places her hands down, leave her there for a couple of moments, taking her weight through her arms, then place her onto her side sitting position – GM.A.5, GM.A.11 or GM.A.30.