GM.B.96 STANDS ON TIPTOES

The child who can stand on her toes shows that she is developing the control needed for many motor skills, such as running lightly on the ball of her foot or walking with a spring in her step. The child must take her weight well forward onto the front of her foot in order to stand on her toes.

How to Assess

Method: Demonstrate and ask your child to copy. You could include this in a game of ‘Simon says’. Score plus if your child can stand on tiptoes for at least 8 seconds.

How to Teach

Give your child some support to stand with, either by holding her hands or by standing her against a wall or chair with your hands at her hips. Once she knows what is expected of her, gradually reduce your help until she is standing in tiptoes alone. Expect her to stand for very short periods, initially.

Walking up ladder in the ball of her foot will help her to get the idea of getting her weight forward.

Put music on at home and encourage her to dance to it like a ballet dancer or fairy, or to pretend to play basketball or soccer. Such imaginary play often does the trick where all else fails!