children's therapy

Written by Michaela Bortle, PT, DPT

“Oh my son never crawled, he just hopped up and started running one day!” It’s a phrase you might hear one of the other parents at church, mom’s day out, or on your weekly trip to the park say; but don’t be fooled, crawling is an important part of a child’s development! That’s not to say that a child skipping crawling is necessarily bad or harmful, but crawling should be encouraged during development, even if it comes after a child learns to walk!

Here are some of the reasons that crawling is an important stage of child development:

Development of joint stability and muscle strength. 

Crawling is important in developing stability and strength in the trunk, arms, and legs which are all important for future gross motor skills. Crawling even strengthens structures related to breathing, talking and eating!

Fine motor benefits.

There are also fine motor benefits to crawling including lengthening finger muscles, development of the arches in the hand, and development of the thumb and webspace. All of these help with future grasping and manipulation of smaller items, pencils, spoons, etc.

Physical and neurological coordination.

Proper crawling form involves the opposite arm and leg moving at the same time which requires the right and left sides of the brain to communicate. The communication between the two sides of the brain is essential for all sorts of activities in life such as walking, running, riding a bike, dressing, etc.

Binocular vision.

This visual skill develops as your child looks to the distance at where they are going and then back down at their hands while crawling. This aspect of vision is important for future tasks that require us to calculate distances and adjust our vision between distances such as catching a ball, driving, and copying down writing during class.

Sensory benefits.

Crawling on hands and knees incorporates five different sensory systems: skin, muscles and joints, inner ear, eyes and even ears! This helps babies better understand where their body is in space and helps them plan their future movements.

So, now that we know why crawling is important, how can you encourage your child to crawl?

Here are some ideas:

• Tummy time from the start!
• Use a tunnel or cardboard box to play and encourage your child to crawl through.
• Spread toys out in an open area out of reach.
• Get on your hands and knees and pretend to be a dog or cat and play chase with your child.
• Encourage rocking on hands and knees.
• Demonstrate crawling for your child or have older siblings demonstrate crawling.

Although there is no definitive proof that a child skipping crawling has a negative impact on future development and function, since there are many benefits to crawling it is important to encourage your child to crawl even if it is only for a short period of time before walking or even after walking has begun!

We are excited to offer two weekly kids yoga classes at Children’s Therapy Connection. These classes are facilitated by a physical therapist and our very own Jazmin Rambeau, a certified yoga instructor and author of this article.  See our Yoga Program page more details. To join one of our classes: call (317) 288-7606 or complete this form. 

Written by Jazmin Rambeau

Within the last several years, holistic practices, such as yoga and mindfulness, have gained popularity and it seems that more and more people are embracing them – but why? In this fast-paced and technology-based culture, perhaps people are searching for tools that will help them truly connect. A growing body of research now suggests that yoga and mindfulness practices can help children cultivate wellness on every level.

Yoga is classified as a complementary, integrative treatment method by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). It offers many physical poses that help to improve overall strength, flexibility and balance in the body. Yoga also focuses on conscious breathing, which calms the nervous system and creates a more peaceful state of mind. A systematic review of literature conducted by a group of physical therapists determined that “yoga seems to be a multitasking modality that simultaneously treats physical impairments and psychosocial issues such as stress, anxiety, or hyperactivity” (Galantino et al., 2008).

Additionally, yoga improves cognitive and language development, especially for young children. During yoga classes, kids are encouraged to interact with peers, follow directions, play games, sing songs, remember poses, and maintain overall body awareness. Yoga helps kids develop these skills in a fun and supportive way. Another study conducted by occupational therapists found that a group of children with ASD decreased problematic behaviors in the classroom by participating in a daily yoga practice (Koenig et al., 2012).

Finally, ancient yogic principles suggest living with a kind outlook towards others and oneself. Through practices like gratitude, helping others, and choosing positive thoughts, yoga can also help children develop resilience and compassion. The word yoga directly translates to “yuj” meaning to yoke, or unite together. By engaging with the body, breath, mind, and heart, the whole being can be connected and healthy.

JOIN US!

We hope that you will join us and give your child the opportunity to connect with their strong, calm, and confident nature. See our Yoga Program page more details. To join one of our classes: call (317) 288-7606 or complete this form. Also, stay tuned for more posts about yoga and mindfulness for kids!

Sources:

Galantino, M.L., Galbavy, R., and Quinn, L. (2008) “Therapeutic effects of yoga for children: A systematic review of the literature.” Pediatric Physical Therapy 20, 1, 66-80.

Koenig, K. P., Buckley-Reen, A., and Garg, S. (2012). “Efficacy of the Get Ready to Learn yoga program among children with autism spectrum disorders: A pretest-postest control group design.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy 66, 5, 538-546.