Methods of teaching children of different age groups to walk. methodical development on physical education on the topic. Rein leash for a child for safety and learning to walk For teaching a child to walk
The first steps of a child are a long-awaited joy for parents, however, such joy can be overshadowed by a large number of falls and related injuries. Reins for children can provide complete safety for beginners.
This rather simple device is useful for controlling a child who is just learning to walk and stands unsteadily on his legs. Reins or a leash for teaching a child to walk will be useful to those parents who are physically unable to lead the baby by the hands (for example, with back pain), who often go with the baby in crowded places (train station, shopping centers), and for those who want to ease their period of rapid growth physical activity child. The reins are also convenient for those who have children of the same age or twins.
Manufacturers offer several models of children's walking reins, depending on the age and personal preferences of the parents.
What should be remembered when choosing the reins for the baby?
- Safety. When choosing reins, check how strong the lines and clamps are. When walking, do not let the child play on his own with a leash or lead other children with the help of the reins. Do not choose reins that are fixed with Velcro, their child will be able to unfasten on their own.
- Comfort. When buying reins, consider the degree of comfort of the device: the materials should not rub the skin of the child or crush it during movement.
Some parents, who find reins a good and useful tool, are deterred from buying reins by the price. In this case, many mothers are wondering how to make the reins for the child on their own. We offer you a master class on sewing the simplest model of children's reins. You do not need to be a professional seamstress to do this, and you can even do without a sewing machine.
Do-it-yourself reins for children
To make a leash, you will need 4 meters of textile slings and 4 fastex (semi-automatic plastic fastener). To correctly calculate the length of the straps, you should measure the child and add a few centimeters for clothing and wrap.
Modern manufacturers of children's devices offer the consumer a lot of colorful devices. They are designed for the correct physical development of children and meet all safety rules. Bright, attractive, with additional game panels, children's simulators and devices are very popular in the domestic market. All of them have significant and compelling benefits. But along with the pluses, these items have Negative influence on the physical development of the child.
Jumpers - the enemy of the children's spine
Parents begin to use this children's sports simulator even before the moment the baby begins to move independently. It is believed that jumpers bring a lot of pleasure to the child. But they bring pleasure only to mommy, who can do household chores for a while.
A child, being in jumpers and left without parental attention, quickly loses interest in jumping. In addition, the device limits the freedom of movement of the child and may harm his natural development. Pushing off the floor with two legs, the baby gets used to these movements, and without a walker, he will try to resume the same movements. As a result, regular falls will affect independent walking.
Do not forget about the fragile spine of the child. During jumping in jumpers, the main load falls on the back. Therefore, frequent jumping in the device will lead to a curvature of the spine.
Jumpers are highly undesirable for children who have skin damage in the area of \u200b\u200btouch with the details of the device. Jumpers squeeze the baby's perineum quite strongly and can cause allergic reactions.
Walkers: traumatic and useless
Many parents believe that walkers speed up the development of the baby. And they are very wrong about this. This adaptation affects only the muscle group that is responsible for the formation of the gait. Of course, it is very convenient to put the child in a walker and be distracted by a conversation with your beloved girlfriend, knowing that nothing will happen to the baby. But walkers have many disadvantages.
With the help of this device, the child will not learn to walk on his own for a long time, since the structure itself will be able to carry it to any place in the room. In addition, he will not develop the vestibular apparatus. And due to improper distribution of the load and circulatory disorders, not only the spine, but also the feet can be deformed.
Walkers reliably protect the baby from falling, and without this device the child will not be able to avoid injury. On top of this, they prevent the development of a defensive reaction, because if a child encounters a barrier, he will not see the danger.
Little children know the world through touch and taste buds. Being in a walker, it becomes impossible to reach many objects.
Leash (reins) for children: did you definitely want a child, not a dog?
This device was invented for restless and inquisitive children who, on a walk, each time strive to show independence and run away from adults. Moreover, they help to maintain balance and control the fall of the baby. This harmless invention provokes a lot of resentment from others, as it evokes the association of "walking the dog."
The harm of children's reins lies in the fact that they inhibit the psychological development of the baby. Being constantly on a leash, the child cannot worry about his safety. Consequently, he will not learn to make decisions independently, will not receive elementary development skills and will not develop a sense of responsibility for his life.
Moreover, the leash makes it clear to the child who is dominant in many ways without the possibility of changing the situation. Thus, children do not learn many lessons, miss the opportunity to learn and do not understand when to cooperate or listen to adults.
Kangaroo backpack: convenient, but dangerous
The newfangled kangaroo backpack has already been appreciated by many parents, because it greatly facilitates the carrying of small children. It is adjustable for any adult, type of clothing (summer and winter) and can easily change the position of the child. Backpacks perfectly support the lower back, thereby preventing the occurrence of pain. Being in such a "bag", the child feels completely safe, and the hands of mom or dad at this time are completely free.
Despite these advantages, the kangaroo backpack has some negative sides. Since the baby is in a hanging position for a long time, the entire load goes to the fragile spine and perineum. Subsequently, this leads to deformation of the spinal column and damage to the skin on the inner surface of the legs. A dangling head will also have a big minus if it is not pressed against an adult. A narrow seat can interfere with blood flow in the baby's pelvis and legs. These negative sides are more related to the design of the backpack. But do not forget that even in a properly selected kangaroo shoulder bag, the baby should be no more than two hours.
Pay attention to the harmless alternative to kangaroo -.
Arena: psychologists warn
A very useful and practical playpen for children causes an ambiguous reaction from psychologists. On the one hand, the safety of the playpen allows you to leave the child alone for a while, and on the other hand, it limits the movements and freedom of the little man. Limitation interferes with normal physical development and makes it impossible to move actively.
Growing up, the child seeks to know the world around him. His first independent movements are crawling. Unfortunately, the arena misses this opportunity. It only allows the baby to stand on his feet (or sit down), hold on to the support and move along the edge.
In the arena, the baby often feels helpless, as he is unable to reach out to what attracts him. The obstacle becomes insurmountable, and the first experience of insolvency can be fixed for a long time on a subconscious level. Moreover, being in the arena for a long time, the child loses close contact with adults, which affects his psychological development.
Plenty of parents have raised healthy and happy children without resorting to these dubious benefits. Try it too!
Article last updated: 04/05/2018
AT a certain moment many mothers and fathers are beginning to think about how to teach a child to walk. This question may arise if it seems to parents that the walking skill for some reason is delayed in their child. However, it should be understood that for each child this skill arises at his own age, which is why it is at least unreasonable to look up to familiar kids.
Child psychologist
There are several simple but effective exercises and methods that allow you to strengthen the children's spine, develop muscles lower extremities and stimulate the child's interest in learning about the world around him.
Read in the article child psychologist, which are the most popular and common can be used in the first year of a child's life.
The timing of the emergence of the skill
The first steps of the child can usually be observed at 12 months of age. But this does not mean that all children master the skill of walking at the age of one.
What is features of walking at an early or late age?
- very early. It also happens that the child gets on his feet at the age of seven months, and after a couple of weeks he begins to walk. Doctors are wary of such "acceleration", worrying about the condition of the fragile spinal column. But you need to look at the baby. If it develops at a faster pace, then you should not particularly worry;
- early. If the child went to, then it is also considered that his motor abilities are formed ahead of the normative terms. It is also not worth worrying, but only if the parents did not specifically stimulate the walking skill;
- late. Walking at 16 months and even a little later is also considered the norm. This occurs in healthy children, but more often the delay in motor skills is associated with prematurity or high weight.
As soon as the baby masters the skill of independent movement, you can notice the difference between his walking and the walking of adults. The child will put his feet next to each other, "print" steps due to the inability to roll from heel to toe. This is fine.
If the baby is very clubfoot, walks on tiptoes, or has invented his own, not entirely adequate way of moving, you need to show him to an orthopedist and neurologist.
They will be able to assess the state of the musculoskeletal and nervous system and advise the necessary therapeutic procedures, including massage and gymnastic exercises, swimming.
If the child did not walk at 12 months on his own, but at the same time develops normally, without neurological and orthopedic diseases, you should not worry too much.
As mentioned above, the ability to walk at 12 months is an average standard indicator. However, parents need to know What can slow down the development of the walking skill:
- excessive fatness. The kids are gaining excess weight due to ill-conceived diet, overeating and impaired metabolism. Unnecessary kilograms load the spine, as a result of which the child cannot take a vertical position;
- temperament. Phlegmatic and melancholic children crawl and walk a little later than more "groovy" choleric and sanguine. A similar pattern arises due to the connection of motor activity with the characteristics of the neuropsychic organization;
- genetics. Is Walking Delay a Family Trait? In this case, it is pointless to expect the child to develop the skill of walking as soon as possible;
- climate. Residents of the southern regions of the planet, as a rule, master motor skills faster than natives of the northern territories;
- fear. Children's walking is always accompanied by small setbacks in the form of stumbling, falling. Some babies, having experienced a bad experience, are afraid to walk without the support of their parents;
- stress. Babies are sensitive to any change in the psychological atmosphere. Unfamiliar surroundings, family scandals, punishments and other unfavorable conditions lead to stressful situation. The child will go as soon as he feels safe;
- disease. Even a common cold weakens the baby. Some children even forget the skill after being sick for some time. However, after a couple of weeks, the skills easily return.
Pathologies in the development of the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system stand apart. In such a situation, it is necessary to constantly monitor the relevant specialist, take medications and physiotherapy.
Creating conditions for walking
If parents do not know how to teach a child to walk on his own, you should contact the doctor observing the baby. It is likely that he will recommend taking note of one of the the following popular teaching methods:
- in shoes. Many experts recommend putting shoes on children before they start walking on their own. Naturally, you need to take only high-quality orthopedic shoes. Such shoes are made of natural materials, tightly cover the leg, are distinguished by the presence of a hard back and arch support that supports the arch of the foot;
- barefoot. According to this approach, it is not worth rushing to put on a child's shoes, especially if the walking skill began to appear in the warm season. Walking with "naked" heels on a hard surface allows you to strengthen the ligamentous-muscular apparatus, joints, form the correct arch of the foot;
- on a safe surface. The child moves unsteadily, so you need to limit his movement on slippery surfaces: tiles, linoleum, parquet boards. If the baby still slides on the floor, you need to purchase socks with rubber soles that improve traction with the surface;
- in free territory. When the baby learns to walk, parents should provide him with space. This means moving away large items from the path of the young "traveler", as well as providing access to other areas of the apartment;
- with reins. Parents who lead their child "on a leash" are subjected to all sorts of criticism, as well as sidelong glances from others. However, such a device can help if the baby is afraid to walk without support.
The popular TV doctor Komarovsky is not against the use of the reins by his parents. However, it indicates a serious drawback of such a device. The design prevents falls, and the child must learn to fall and get up.
Teaching a child to walk
Before you start learning, you need to make sure that the child is ready to learn this skill. You should not rush the baby, but you should not miss the most opportune moment either.
Signs of a toddler's readiness to walk: getting up from their knees, being able to stay upright for a long time, trying to move around by holding on to furniture or walls.
The more signs of readiness are observed, the easier it will be to teach the baby to walk. And certain exercises will contribute to accelerated learning, which will be discussed further.
Much will depend on what the parents will lay at the beginning of it. life path. That is why, before quickly teaching a child to walk, it is necessary to prepare the child's body for subsequent loads.
A baby who moves a lot, shows activity and interest in learning about the world around him, will begin to walk faster than his peers, who constantly lie down and move little.
In order for the child to grow up more physically prepared and strong, you need to daily perform certain exercises:
- laying on the tummy. As soon as the baby begins to roll over on his tummy, you can often lay him out in this position. This will strengthen the neck and back muscles;
- coups. A child at 2 months is already trying to roll over while taking off clothes or changing diapers. Mom should encourage such “tricks”, because they improve the muscles of the limbs and the cervical and spinal region;
- adopting a sitting position. At about 4 - 6 months of age, the child begins to sit down, and already at 8 months he is able to sit fully. When he is in a sitting position, invite him to reach for a doll or car.
- crawl. The child, wanting to get the right object, tries to crawl. These are very important exercises, so parents should encourage the baby to move on all fours or in a plastunka as often as possible.
Strong muscles are the key to timely walking. In order for children's legs to be able to confidently hold their little master, the child must be taught to bend and unbend his knees, to jump with the help of adults.
Early Childhood Exercises
How to teach a small child to walk? First of all, you do not need to insist, on the contrary, it is recommended to carefully monitor the development of the baby. The following activities will help improve walking skills:
- Fitball exercises. A child of 6 - 9 months can be seated on a large ball with his back to himself, supporting him by the hips. The little "rider" is rocked in different sides for training the vestibular apparatus and coordination of actions.
- From the age of 9 months, children can learn to stand on a hard surface. The child is turned back to itself, supporting the sternum. Then they lift him up so that he can rise from his haunches and straighten his legs. This exercise can be done with music.
- Also a 9 month old baby you need to be encouraged to get up from your knees. To do this, you need to attract his attention with the help of a doll or a typewriter, which is placed further away on the sofa. The child, trying to get a toy, gets up and tries to walk.
- Another question: how teach the child to stand without support. Experts advise to wait for the moment when the baby will stand at a reliable stand, and give him his favorite toy. Then he is offered another game object so that he is forced to let go of the support he is holding on to.
If the child is interested in walking before 9 months, do not interfere. Usually, kids who are already physically stronger are ready for new achievements.
The child learns and grows quickly, so you need to constantly come up with new activities.
Experts advise to some helpful exercises:
- from 10 months, you can use an ordinary baby carriage (for girls) or a tolokar (for boys) to train the walking skill. The stroller pushes forward and the child follows. Parents also insure him from the back;
- as soon as the baby learns to hold on confidently (for the tenth month of life), exercises with sticks are connected. The length of these devices is approximately 100 cm. The child grabs them, and the parent puts his hands on the children's hands. Rearranging the sticks forward, the baby learns to walk;
- at 10 months, babies usually try to walk on their own, but some are afraid of large spaces. The child is launched into a hoop, and then this sports device is moved in such a way that the baby is forced to walk;
- if the baby already knows how to walk (usually at 11 months), holding on to the parent's hand, you can teach him to move with obstacles. At a low height, you need to pull the rope, and the child must step over it.
Parents should monitor their children's mood. If the child is uncomfortable, he refuses to get up or walk, the exercises are postponed for a while.
Safety
First of all, you should take care of the safety of the child during the training of walking skills. The first tip - do not put the baby on its feet if it is still too small and not ready to move. What else needs to be remembered?
- buy special shoes designed for walking. Avoid booties and soft sandals. Optimal shoes - lightweight, with a harsh sole. If the lower part seems slippery to parents, it can be sanded with sandpaper;
- as already noted, avoid training walking on slippery surfaces to avoid injury and damage. In addition, some babies stop even trying to walk when faced with a surface that is too smooth;
- an inexperienced "walker" should not encounter obstacles: steps, thresholds, carpets and other barriers. Only when the child learns to walk, you can come up with various obstacles, but at the initial stage they must be avoided;
- you should also protect the baby from sharp furniture corners, large floor flowerpots, swinging doors and boxes and cans with household chemicals lying in cabinets, fragile items and hanging tablecloths;
- refuse to use walkers, in which the baby will not walk, but ride, and very quickly. In addition, such a device will not stimulate the child to move independently.
Pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky is also convinced that walkers are useless in teaching a child to walk upright. Such a device helps only parents who seek to take a break from communicating with their child.
Learn more about what is dangerous and whether they are beneficial to a small child, read the informative article by a child psychologist.
Taking care of children's safety, it is necessary not to go to the other extreme - excessive guardianship. Children should move independently, freely, and parents just need to help and insure the kids from injury.
Usually the learning process goes smoothly, but in some cases it is possible some issues to be aware of:
- Constant falls. The child is just learning to walk - therefore, he will fall due to ineptitude and underdevelopment of the vestibular apparatus. However, if the falls are too frequent, you can suspect poor vision and consult an ophthalmologist.
- Fear of walking alone. This usually happens with overly sensitive children. If the baby is frightened of something while walking or falls, you should not scold him, but support and stimulate him in every possible way to walk.
- Increased tone of the calf muscles. If the child walks on toes, you should consult a doctor. Reason in? In this case, the specialist will prescribe a special relaxing gymnastics and massage.
- Incorrect position of the feet. How to teach a child to walk if he constantly clubfoot, “fills” out or in the foot? These positions are incorrect, so it is important to consult with an orthopedist and conduct corrective classes.
Should a child be taught to walk? An unexpected question, since we wrote about training above. However, it should be understood that by teaching we mean more training if the baby develops at an optimal pace.
Purposeful training is necessary only if the child is late with the skill and the doctor prescribes special exercises. Remember that all children develop individually!
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Hello, I'm Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully studied at SUSU as a special psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and advising parents on raising children. I apply the experience gained, among other things, in the creation of psychological articles. Of course, by no means do I pretend to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.
WALKING - cyclic movement, natural way child's movement.
The load during walking depends on its pace and energy consumption during its implementation. The pace of walking can be normal, moderate, fast, etc.
Walking is a complex movement.
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Methods of teaching children to walk, exercise in balance.
WALKING - cyclic movement, baby's natural way of moving.
The load during walking depends on its pace and energy consumption during its implementation.. The pace of walking can be normal, moderate, fast, etc.
Walking is a complex movement.
It has a significant physiological effect on the body: during walking, more than 60% of the muscles are included in the work, metabolic, respiratory processes; the work of the cardiovascular, nervous and other systems of the body increases.
TYPES OF WALKING
normal walking,
Walking on toes, on heels,
High knee walking
Walking with a wide stride
Walking with side steps (straight and sideways),
Walking from heel to toe
Walking in a semi-squat and squat,
lunge walking,
Walking with a cross step
Gymnastic walking.
defining the condition for the formation of walking is training. Forming the skill of correct walking in a child, the teacher educates him in the coordination of the movement of arms and legs, balance, correct posture, which develops and strengthens the arch of the foot.
WALK TEACHING METHOD
Age | Features of the movement of children | Software Requirements | Pedagogical requirements in teaching movement |
Junior preschool age | There is no coordination of movements of the arms and legs; The foot is not formed - the children “slap” it while walking, the legs are half-bent, the torso is tilted forward; When walking, the child steps with the whole foot; When walking, the child lowers his head, looks at his feet; pace of walking is unstable; Poorly used room space | Teach children to walk with free, natural movements hands; - Learn to walk with high knees; Learn to step over objects; - Learn orientation in space | Pay attention to the position of the torso and head during movement (the head is raised, the torso is straightened); When walking, pay attention to the fact that the children do not “shuffle” their feet, do not look under their feet; - Additional walking is used: on toes, raising knees high; bypassing objects; changing direction; in a circle without holding hands; side steps, forward, to the sides; alternating walking with running; stepping over objects |
Middle preschool age | Walking is quite confident, with strict observance of the intended direction. Hand movements are not yet energetic and are performed with a small amplitude; The shoulders are tense, the body is not straightened enough, but the head “looks” forward when walking; The length of the step increases, the rhythm of the steps is established; In general, walking is not yet perfect enough; Often there is a lack of correct posture, "shuffling" legs, constrained movements | Form the correct posture; Teach children to walk on an inclined plane; Introduce children to the side step technique; Learn to coordinate hand movements while walking | Pay attention to the movement of the arms during the exercise, to the position of the body (shoulders straightened, the back is straight), to the setting of the foot (rolling from heel to toe); Follow the correct posture; - Exercises: walking with a bag on the head (hands on the belt or to the sides, shoulders laid back); on socks, heels, outer side of the foot; small and wide steps; "snake" between spaced objects, etc. |
senior preschool age | Consistency of movements of arms and legs, a confident wide step with a marked roll, good orientation when moving in a group, the correct position of the body (the body is straightened, the head is straight); Children get lost in individual tasks | Teach children to breathe correctly;- Teach children to swing their arms vigorously; Work on ease of gait and coordination of movement | Pay attention to the position of the hands when walking, to the way of walking with a sweeping step with the foot from the toe; Exercises: walking with a gymnastic step; cross step; back forward; with rhythmic stomping while walking; in a squat; with lunges; with various hand movements; with closed eyes, etc. |
AT YOUNGER AGEthey pay special attention to the coordination of movements of the arms and legs while walking, teach children to swing their arms freely, develop their orientation in space (do not bump into objects, stop quickly on a signal, etc.).
Due to the weakness of the extensor muscles, many children of younger preschool age cannot hold their torso evenly and often stoop. This can lead to posture problems. Therefore, it is necessary to remind the child so that he does not hunch over and does not lower his head while walking. With the correct position of the head, the back straightens and the chest expands.
Children walking MIDDLE-AGEDbecomes more confident and clear. However, some still have a violation of the rhythm of walking, insufficiently energetic swing of the arms, weak repulsion with the toe at the end of the step.
The main requirement for teaching correct walking to children of this age group is to teach the child to perform this movement easily, confidently, with the correct ratio of hand and foot work. Preschoolers 5 years old are recommended to walk with a change in pace and direction (as directed by an adult), with stepping over objects (cubes, balls) that stand on the floor at a distance of 35-45 cm, etc.
AT SENIOR PRESCHOOL AGEimproved walking movements thanks to accumulation of motor experience.Most children 6 years old walk with proper hand-foot coordination, with a clear step, placing the foot on the heel and then rolling onto the toe., which contributes to a more energetic repulsion from the soil.
With children in this age group, they continue to improve their walking skills. The main attention is paid to the formation of the correct posture during movement, the development of a clear and rhythmic step, a natural and wide swing of the arms. Exercises for attention and endurance while walking are useful for them: stop at a signal, take a certain position, turn and continue moving, etc.
In senior preschool age walking applies:
1) with a high lift of the hip, which strengthens the muscles of the back, abdominals and legs, requires a strong swing of the arms, which promotes muscle development shoulder girdle and strengthening the ligamentous and articular apparatus;
2) walking with a cross step, developing dexterity;
3) walking with a side step;
4) with various tasks performed on a signal - for orientation in space, a change in pace, direction, with various rearrangements, between objects; walking with additional hand movements, with objects; walking on a reduced support area with a gradual rise in height, as well as at different heights (bridges, boards, logs), contributing to the development of a sense of balance, endurance, composure, dexterity, economy of movement.
Children of the 7th YEAR OF LIFE with purposeful guidance, they move well and freely, have the correct posture, coordination of movements, oriented to various conditions and use in connection with this various methods of walking, successfully master its technique.
In order to improve walking, they are offered more complex exercises: walking in a squat - the legs are bent at the knees, when stepping, the foot is placed on the foot from the heel, then with a roll to the toe, repulsion from the plane is performed.
Preschoolers of all age groups as an exercise, walking with a gymnastic stick on the shoulders, shoulder blades, behind the back and in front of the chest is recommended, with a bag on the head (weighing 500 g), as well as With fixed position of the hands (hands on the belt, behind the head, to the sides). These types of walking are widely used in morning exercises.
They also benefit from walking at a faster and slower pace.; walking on toes, heels, inside and outside of the foot, with high hips. These exercises are performed in the form of imitation exercises: walk “like a clumsy bear”, “horse”, “heron”, “chanterelle”, etc. It is advisable to alternate such types of imitation walking with ordinary walking. All these exercises contribute to the development of the muscles of the musculoskeletal system and the prevention of flat feet.
Walking exercises offered to preschoolers are accompanied by a variety of tasks. For example, walking with a change of direction (as directed by an adult), backwards, with eyes closed, with a change in pace and with stops on a signal; with hand movements (clapping in the palms above the head, in front of the chest, behind the back, etc.); walking "over bumps" (circles drawn on the ground at a distance of 40-50 cm from one another); with stepping over objects (cubes, boxes, pebbles) on the floor (ground) at a distance of 30-45 cm; walking alternating with running.
The first step is one of the most exciting moments in a child's development. Moms and dads always look forward to when their baby masters the skill of independent movement on legs. And at some point, parents begin to think about how to teach a child to walk so that he can do it without support.
At what age do children start walking
According to the conventional norm, based on statistical data, babies begin to walk between the ages of 9 and 16 months. But each child is individual, so going beyond the specified framework is not a mandatory sign of any developmental pathology. There are children who at 7 months stand on their feet, and after a while they are already walking. Others, on the contrary, do not yet master the skill of independent walking at the age of one and a half. It depends on various factors:
- Heredity. Doctors usually ask at what age mom and dad mastered a particular skill. If one of the parents started walking late in childhood, most likely, the baby will also not be in a hurry to take the first step.
- Body type. All skills are usually more difficult for strong children, so they also begin to walk later than their thin and light peers.
- Gender of the child. Girls are often ahead of boys in development, this also applies to the skill of independent walking.
- The degree of development of body muscles and sense of balance. This factor largely depends on the parents, who, with the help of exercises, can help the baby strengthen the muscles and learn to keep balance.
- Temperament. Calm and contemplative children may crawl longer and go later than active toddlers seeking to satisfy their curiosity.
- Psychological atmosphere in the house. Constant quarrels in the family can lead to stress in the baby. He will not try to walk on his own until he feels completely safe.
Lead and delay
Do not rush the child to stand up and take the first step. If it happens too soon, no thanks individual characteristics the baby, and because of the excessive activity and desire of the parents, the consequences can be negative. The muscles of the baby are not yet sufficiently strengthened and are not ready to withstand the weight of his body. This is especially true for overweight children. The result of such parental haste can be valgus deformity of the legs and feet.
Another situation develops when the child is already 16-17 months old, and he still has not started walking. Causes can vary from a baby's weakened immune system to more serious disorders, such as the effects of a birth injury. In this case, you can not do without the advice of specialists. If doctors have not identified any deviations in the development of the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system, the delay may correspond to the individual rhythm of the child's development.
How to tell if your baby is ready to walk
Before teaching a child to walk independently, parents should observe him to determine if he is ready for this.
The baby is physically and psychologically ready to start walking if he is able to:
- get up on your feet, holding on to a fixed support, sit down from this position;
- get up from your knees on your own;
- stay upright for a long time;
- stand without support;
- make attempts to move by holding on to furniture or walls;
- release the support to take 1-2 steps.
Recipe for the occasion::
Preliminary preparation
The correct gait in a child must be developed even before he begins to walk. Special exercises will help the development of the baby's muscles and accelerate the development of the skill of independent walking:
- Lay the child on his back and take him by the ankles with both hands. Bending the baby's legs at the knees, put them flat on the floor. Take 2-3 "steps", rearranging the legs forward, then back. Repeat 4-5 times. When performing this exercise, which develops the correct setting of the feet, it is important to ensure that the child does not tighten his toes.
- Put the baby on the fitball with his stomach, holding it under his arms. Roll back and forth slightly, touching the crumbs' feet to the wall and stimulating him to straighten his legs when pushing away. Repeat 5-7 times.
- Lay the child on his back. Holding a wooden stick at the height of the baby's straightened legs, ask him to reach the stick with his feet. The goal is to raise the legs at a right angle, without bending the knees.
- Put the baby on the floor so that his feet are completely pressed to the floor. Take the child by the hands and ask to sit down, spreading his knees to the sides, then stand up. When standing up, raise the arms of the crumbs up so that he stands on his toes.
- Put the child on the floor, pressing his back to him. With one hand, hold the knees, preventing them from bending, with the other hand, hold the stomach. Ask the baby to bend down to pick up the toy lying in front of him, then straighten up. Repeat 3-4 times.
Walking Exercises
The following complex is designed to be performed with children who stand confidently on their legs:
- Put the child on the floor with his back to you, holding his stomach with one hand. With the other hand, take the baby by the shin, lifting the leg of the crumb bent at the knee. Hold in a raised position for 5-7 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times with the right and left legs.
- Starting position - as in exercise No. 1. Holding the bent leg of the child with your hand, make a movement that imitates stepping over an obstacle (slightly straightening the leg forward and down). Repeat 3-5 times, alternating legs.
- IP - as in exercise No. 1. Put a large book or a strong box 6-7 cm high in front of the child. Taking the baby’s leg by the ankle and bending at the knee, put it on the “step”, firmly pressing the foot to the surface. While supporting the child, help him lean on this leg, straightening it and rising on the box. Put the other leg next to you. Go down again and repeat 3-5 times with each leg. When it starts to turn out well, it will be possible to put 2-3 steps of different heights.
- Turn the child with his back to you, holding under the armpits and placing his feet on his own. Walk a little around the room so that the baby can understand the principle and consolidate this movement for himself.
- Put a small light ball in front of the baby. Taking the slightly bent leg of the child with your hand, hit the ball with it. Repeat 4-5 times with each leg. After that, you can invite the baby to try to hit the ball with his foot on his own.
When a child has mastered walking, it is important to ensure that his gait is correct: the baby should put his feet in parallel and not too wide apart.
Stimulating interest in walking
Until the baby understands that independent movement is an interesting activity, thanks to which you can learn and see a lot of new things, he will not have an incentive to learn to walk. Parents will have to be smart to encourage their child to break away from the support.
- Offer a toy to a child standing near a support. The kid will take it with one hand. After that, offer him another, no less attractive toy. To take it, the child will have to let go of the other hand, standing without support.
- Place several chairs at a short distance from each other, putting interesting objects on them. The child will be able to move from one of them to another. Over time, the chairs move further and further apart.
- Joint games with parents are the most interesting thing that can be offered to a child. The kid will like to storm sofas together with mom and dad and overcome small obstacles from various home furnishings (pillows, rollers, etc.).
- The example of other children who can walk and even run well will help to encourage the child to move independently. Let the baby watch how fun those who are no longer led by the hand are having fun on the playground.
Helpers
Walkers
These devices are designed more for the convenience of parents than for the development of children. Walkers give mom the opportunity to free her hands, watching the child, in order to have time to do something around the house. They soften blows on surrounding objects, provide the crumbs with some independence and mobility. The kid cannot fall or stumble on a sharp corner. But you can not leave the child in a walker for a long time, this can harm the child's body.
- The process of teaching a child to walk will not be accelerated, since other muscle groups are involved in moving in a walker. The kid pushes off the support with the toe part of the legs, and does not step over, as it should be when walking. This can further provoke the wrong version of walking - on toes.
- A child who is placed in a walker too early can miss out on the important developmental milestone of crawling. As a result, his muscles and joints will not be properly prepared for upright posture. In walkers, the vertical load on the weak spinal column increases, which in the future can lead to a violation of posture and more serious consequences.
- With such a movement, the back muscles are not involved and strengthened, which can lead to problems with the spine.
For healthy children, it is permissible to be in a walker for no more than 30-40 minutes a day. Devices are categorically contraindicated for babies with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, suffering from rickets, having reduced or increased muscle tone, as well as children who still do not know how to sit confidently.
Walkers-wheelchair
Unlike walkers in which the baby sits, wheelchairs are designed for children who stand confidently on their feet. The child pushes such walkers in front of him, moving freely. Kids like bright and interesting devices, because various educational toys are usually located on their front. With such assistants, even the most cautious children will be able to master the skill of walking without fear of falling.
Reins for children
Designed to support an unbalanced baby who is learning to walk. The device allows moms and dads to protect the crumbs from falls. At the same time, parents do not need to bend down and strain their backs.
The danger lies in the fact that with the help of such a leash it is impossible to teach a child to keep balance. He will get used to the fact that there is no need to be careful when falling. But the baby must learn to fall in order to avoid serious injury.
Choosing the first shoe
The right choice of first shoes is very important for the health of the baby's musculoskeletal system. It reliably protects the legs of the crumbs from mechanical damage, and also helps to shape the child's feet. High-quality and properly selected shoes will help to give the baby stability and make his first steps more confident.
To determine the size, you need to put the baby on a sheet of thick paper or cardboard and circle each foot with a pencil. With a cut out stencil, you can go to the store. If one foot is slightly larger, choose the size according to it.
It is better to opt for children's shoes that meet the following criteria:
- made from natural materials;
- light in weight;
- has a high back for rigid and reliable fixation of the heel;
- with a closed round toe;
- the sole is non-slip and not overly soft, has a relief surface and a heel of about 0.5 cm;
- securely fixes the leg in the ankle.
Many parents immediately buy orthopedic shoes for their baby. This type footwear is therapeutic and is purchased only for medical reasons. The recommendation to wear orthopedic shoes is given by a specialist, taking into account the diagnoses confirmed by x-rays.
Do not buy shoes one size larger. In shoes that don't fit well and dangle on the feet, the baby will begin to tuck his socks inward, constantly keeping his knees in a half-bent state.
To teach your baby to walk, you must first prepare him for this. It is necessary to stimulate the child to new achievements, while focusing on his mood. If the baby refuses to do something, you can’t insist and force, this can completely discourage him from moving around on his own and postpone the development of the walking skill for an indefinite time.