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“W sitting” has become more and more of a common sitting position for young children. I will be the first to tell you that I fight this battle with my 2 year old on a daily basis. This position has become so common that most teachers and parents have no idea that it is anything but normal. What’s the big deal? All kids do it – right?
Trust me, it can be exhausting trying to correct your child constantly when they are a big “W sitter.” But every time your child “W sits,” it is a lost opportunity for utilizing their core muscles and building their core strength. The “W sit” position is a very supportive position for your child. They have little chance of losing their balance or falling over. At the same time, however, the position does not require that the child use any core muscles to support themselves; they simply hang out in their pelvic outlet. Many times, you will also see rounding of the back in this position, illustrating the lack of use of core extensor muscles.
But, again, why is all that important? Lack of core muscle development affects your child’s ability to build the muscle strength they need for gross motor skills and the postural control they need in order to sit upright at the table without becoming fatigued. When a child has decreased core strength and stability, they also have less mobility and coordination in their arms and hands, which can affect handwriting and fine motor skills. They often need to use their arms to support themselves at the table which decreases the hands ability to move and manipulate. And decreased upright posture at the table not only affects the mobility of the hands but it also affects your child’s visual perceptual skills and their ability to accurately and smoothly move their eyes when reading, writing, and looking at the board. Finally, “W sitting” can negatively affect the joints of the hips and knees.
Those are a lot of reasons to try and deter your child from “W sitting.” But how exactly do you do that? I will often ask my child to “fix your legs” or ask her to sit in crossed legs position. However, it is also important to encourage your child to participate in activiites that will directly strengthen his core muscles. Great activities include:
- Wheelbarrow walking
- Animal Walks, such as crab walk, frog jumps, and bear walks (click here to find more ideas for animal walks from previous posts)
- Rolling
- Crawling through tunnels and over uneven surfaces, such as a pile of pillows
- Pushing and pulling heavy items, such as the laundry basket
- Helping to carry objects, such as grocery bags
- Hopping, skipping, and jumping
- Climbing, walking up inclines, and using the stairs
Check out this article by Jill Mays, author of Your Child’s Motor Development Story, at Sixty Second Parent for more information on “W sitting.”
What are your thoughts about “W sitting?” Is this one of your child’s favorite ways to sit?
