W-sitting is
a position we see many child choose to sit in. Children sit in a way that their
legs go out on either side of them to provide a wide base of support and it
looks like a W. It seems like a
perfectly fine to parents and other adults.
However, if physical therapists walked into a preschool classroom and
saw children at group or play time sitting like this she would address this as
a concern with the teacher.
So, what is
the big deal? It’s just a comfortable position for them right? Unfortunately,
it is more than that. Many children sit in this position because it is easier
since it provides more support for their upper body. The only problem is that
it can lead to poor coordination, hip and knee problems, and low muscle tone
when they get older. It is a direct
reflection of their core strength and impacts how they will be able to sit in a
chair and write for example when they get to kindergarten. Once this form of sitting becomes a habit it
is a difficult one to break. Being aware
and trying to prevent it from the start is the best approach.
If your child prefers this method of sitting,
give them other options; criss-cross, legs straight, or even sitting with both
legs to one side.
If you want
to learn more about W-Sitting please read the article below.
This blog post was
contributed by Linda Weaver, GSRP teacher for Ionia ISD.
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