pre-schooler barely runs or jumps

[Chickadee]

Hi all. My 3 year old DD (nearly 3.5) is still a very slow very awkward runner, more like a 2 year old. She also was slow to jump off of 2 feet at the same time. She has always refused to bounce on a trampoline, from when she was first learning to stand up. If you hold her hands and help her jump she doesn't seem to flex her knees on landing. Similar when running, she doesn't seem to flex well. Her left foot also seems to turn in slightly.

We've had her hips xrayed recently, just to rule that out as a cause, and were told they are fine. So it may be a muscle issue.

Any suggestions for exercises I can do at home to help her get more mobility or teach her to bend her darn knees? I have thought of dance lessons, just for general movement, and I'm willing to search out a kids physiotherapist if it would help.

Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated!!

[Elfin]

Hi Martha

My dd has slightly low muscle tone so she was a bit slow with some of the gross motor skills but is fine now. I saw a pediatric (sp) physio a couple of times who gave me some exercises which really helped a lot. She said two of the best things for improving gross motor skills are swimming and gymnastics. My dd does both.

It probably wouldn't hurt getting a physio to assess her.

[Lastcenturymum]

Martha, get her checked out by an osteopath - maybe one who works with kids - sometimes it can be a muscle development issue, or restriction (or maybe it was the ice-skating )

I think I roughly know where you are located, so PM me if you want the name of one in your area. If needed they may refer you to a podiatrist (though you don't need a referal for one)

[Mariposa]

my dd1 was like this also. still lacks some co-ordination. but definitely recommend, gymnastics, swimming and soem skipping. she is little to be able to do this herself, i used to put a rope on the ground, jump first and eventually dd1 copied.

how bout hopscotch?

[sksty]

Martha- My 16mth old daughter had dislocated hips when she was born and put into a pavlik harness for 4 mths because of this she never put any weight on her legs till recently she doesn't crawl yet and doesn't walk and doesn't pull herself up on anything.
Her ped dr told me she had what they call Lax Ligaments.
It is very common apparently i have never heard it before but anyway you can tell they have this if they don't tend to bend their knees to do anything. I was referred to a physio who agreed with the ped dr and gave her alot of exercises to strengthen her muscles.
One of them is swimming. I have seen an improvement since she started.
She also goes to baby gym
Another exercise is sitting her on a stand you use for the toilet when they are training. it goes up beside the toilet so they can reach (do you know what i mean?)
Anyway i get her to sit on it with her legs bent and get her to pull herself up so she can strengthen those muscles.
Also a trike bike they say is the best form of exercising those muscles and getting her to bend her knees.
Hope this helps.
Did she crawl? and if so what age? and what type of crawling?
And when did she start walking?

[motherhoodlmb]

I'm not sure where you're located, but I know a good kids physio in McKinnon. I needed her for my bottom shuffling boy and she worked wonders.

[sksty]

Motherhoodlmb- Where is that?

[Chickadee]

motherhoodlmb & Lastcenturymum, if you can recommend someone I'd appreciate it. I'm in north eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

We have been doing swimming for a year now. I haven't really seen much more improvement than I'd expect over a year. She kicks when swimming but I haven't watched closely enough to see 'how' she's kicking.

sksty - DD was born breech, her legs straight & her feet beside her ears One of her hips was 'clicky' according to the paed at her birth and both her hips were xrayed soon after the birth to check them. We also had them xrayed again a few months ago. Would those 'lax ligaments' show up on an xray or how would we get that checked? She sat by 6 months, crawled by 8 months (I think, memory is poor). Her crawl was a proper hands and knees one, straight ahead. She was walking unaided by 13 months I think, so she hasn't been particularly slow, just stiff.

HIGA - now that your DD1 is older do you still notice any problem? I hate skipping rope with her to be honest. She wants it turned properly but is sooooo hopeless, I lose patience.

I'll look into the gymastics and also pre-school/toddler dancing. It's just hard to fit a 2nd scheduled activity in when I'm working full time.

[pegasus]

Martha (OT hat on here)

I'd definitely recommend getting a referral to a paed physio - they can be great for different exercises.

I've also got a fair bit of activity ideas which I'd be happy to pm or email (or post on forum if preferred), but for starters:

• Think about doing the same movement in gravity eliminated postures - eg lying on back and seeing if she'll kick a balloon / beach ball to you - teaching pushing with feet
• lying face down on a large fit/swiss ball. Roll back and forwards - encourage movement between pushing off with hands then with feet - you can stabilise her at her hips

I'm sure more will come to me (or I could go to one of my books tonight - let me know if this is the sort of thing you're after...

[sksty]

Martha- You can pick that up on xray or U/S the preform tests on her legs and check reflex's
If she had clunky or clicky hips at birth and was Breech there is a really possibility so maybe see if you can see a physio
Do you see a physio for her?