GM.A.38 ON TUMMY, ROLLS TO SIDE AND PLAYS, PROPPED ON ONE ELBOW

In GM.A.24, the child learned to roll to her side from her back, and remain on her side to play. Now she can learn to reach this position from her tummy. She has developed the muscle control in her neck, shoulder girdle, trunk and pelvis to maintain this position easily, and she can free one hand totally for play by propping up on one elbow.

This is an excellent position, as it requires the child to work hard on her shoulder girdle muscles, and she exercises the muscles that both bend her trunk sideways and rotate her trunk, important ingredients for good balance.

How to Assess

Method: Observe your child when she is playing on her tummy with toys close at hand. Score plus if your child rolls into the side lying position, propping on her elbow to play.

How to Teach

This is a difficult skill for a low-toned child, but it is worth persevering with. You may need to prop your child on her side, using a wedge. Keep her top leg bent up, with her foot fiat on the floor and her knee pointing to the ceiling. Make sure that her opposite shoulder is rotated towards the knee that is upright.

When she can play happily like this, try removing the wedge and help her to prop up on her elbow. You can also prop her higher and higher, using cushions or a foam block, until she is nearly upright, still with the twist between opposite leg and shoulder, and still with the knee pointing up and foot flat on the floor. This position does many good things. It puts the pelvis in a good position, it incorporates rotation and it improves balance. You will probably not need to teach this skill, as you have been preparing your baby for it with all your handling up to now.