Children typically learn to jump at 18-24 months. True jumping involves take off and landing with two feet, and maintaining balance upon landing. In most cases, kids jump just for the fun of it. When skills are fun, kids will practice them over and over again. With each jump, a child further develops trunk and leg strength, balance, coordination, and motor control. For kids with deficits in any of these areas, jumping becomes a difficult skill to attain. Is it important to learn to jump? As adults, we don’t jump often. But we should still possess the strength to do so. Children jump as a part of gross motor play with peers and with many athletic activities. Below are 3 tips to get your non-jumper jumping!
1. Splash vs Splish-Splash: Take off and landing with two feet is challenging. To illustrate correct jumping form, tell your child to imagine a puddle. Show him/her how to make a big splash by jumping into the “puddle.” If they take off and land with one foot leading instead of two, tell them, “Nope! Didn’t get me wet! That was a splish-splash. Try again to make a big splash!”
2. Use sidewalk chalk. Draw lines and hopscotch squares for jumping onto and over. Did he/she understand the “puddle?” Make a big blue puddle out of chalk. Make several puddles to encourage your child to jump from one to another (this is a more difficult skill!).
3. Repetition! Motor learning theory tells us that, to learn a new skill, a child must have significant opportunities to practice. Find ways to add jumping to everyday tasks. For example, always prompt your child to jump from the last step when descending a flight of stairs. Find the lines on a sidewalk and jump over every one, every time. Always insist that your child bunny hops to bed each night. Modeling is important, so jump along with them. Go ahead…it’s fun!
Have you tried the above strategies, but your child still is not learning the skill? Call our office to talk to a physical therapist. We can find ways to improve a child’s strength, balance, and coordination for jumping.