Core Strengthening for Toddlers

It’s difficult to balance, perform coordinated movements on both sides of the body, sit up straight in a chair, hold a pencil, control scissors, or jump if you don’t have a strong core. We know that decreased core strength commonly contributes to issues like W-sitting and delayed motor skill development. The causes of weak core muscles in toddlers are due to many different reasons, discussed below.

What causes weak core muscles in babies?

We also find that more and more kids are having difficulty maintaining functional posture at home and in the classroom and with overall body strength. This could be due to many reasons, including:

• An increase in the number of children with developmental delays.
• A rising trend of children being less physically active during the school day as academic demands in the classroom become more intense.
• Kids becoming more interested in video games and television than a game of tag in the backyard.

Fun Core Strengthening Activities for Toddlers

The core muscles are the muscles in the abdomen, back, and pelvis and the key to strengthening these muscles is making it fun — like a game! Issue a challenge and give the activity a playful purpose!

Have your child lie on their back with their knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Have them push hard through their heels to raise their bottom up off the floor. Be sure that they are keeping their head and shoulders on the ground. Can they hold it? Have your little one fly like a superhero and strengthen their back! Have them lay on their stomach on the floor and try to lift their arms up off of the floor so that their upper chest comes up too. Again, have your child lay on their stomach on the floor. While you hold their knees (easier) or ankles (more challenging), have them walk their hands forward ten steps and backward ten steps. Can they walk forward to a ball and put it in a basket with one hand? How long can they hold this position without pulling their legs away?

Keep it Simple and Have Fun

Trunk strengthening exercises for toddlers and kids are simple: They can even be as easy as going outside and playing on the playground! While the core strengthening exercises described above are perfect for targeting core strengthening specifically, sometimes good old-fashioned play activities can have just as much benefit. Remember to have fun and your kids will love it!

Schedule Your Child’s Care Assessment Today

At Care Options for Kids, we understand the unique challenges of caring for a child with severe health conditions. Our dedicated team of pediatric home health care nurses is here to support your family with compassionate, expert care tailored to your child’s needs. Contact us today to schedule an assessment and learn how we can help you navigate this journey with confidence and care.

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