When we first learn to come up to sit as babies, there’s an enormous amount of calibration that goes on. We don’t think about it once we’ve been upright for a while.
Each developmental stage is fascinating in the way it prepares the way for the next.
The very first movements of pressing and pushing against the floor prepares us for rolling. That’s the first locomotion towards or away from something in our environment. From there, it’s a quick dash to creeping. Which in turn grows the musculature for crawling, and successful sitting.
Last term I worked with a young child around 8 years old who was having discomfort in sitting on the floor at school. To solve the problem, we had to go back through some of these earlier pathways. The challenge was to do it in playful ways that she could practice at home without getting bored. Rolling figured quite highly in the movements she practiced without reminders. Interestingly creeping was the hardest to return to. It requires a massive amount of co-ordination through the whole body right from the toes, and a lot of muscle power to pull yourself along the floor like a lizard (try it yourself!).
After a few months working together our work was done. She was able to sit comfortably in various positions on the floor, at school and home. Her Mum also reported our lessons had also helped her feel calmer and positive in an emotional way. I was delighted to be able to help.
Transform how you move, feel and live 