GM.A.61 SITTING, PROPS WITH STRAIGHT ARMS BACKWARDS TO PREVENT A FALL

This is the final arm protective skill in sitting. It is the last to develop after forward propping and sideways propping and is needed to prevent those backward falls that inevitably occur when a child is learning to sit.

How to Assess

Method: Plan your child in a sitting position. From behind gently tap the child backwards on 1 shoulder. Score plus if your child places her hand back behind her hip line, to prevent overbalancing.

How to Teach

The best position to teach this skill is as follows. Kneel down on the floor, resting back on your heels. Sit your baby on your lap, facing you. Support her around her trunk so that she feels secure. Now tip her backwards – quite quickly – so that her arm will come out behind her to prevent a fall. You should lean her back on an angle, so that she is again learning diagonal movement, and this will also make it easier for her. Practise to both sides.