IS normal: as parents, we would like all the first steps to be easy for our children. That they learned immediately and effortlessly to smile, sit, crawl, walk. And we would do anything to help them. Instead? Instead, no.
What he says is important Laura Carai: the neuropsychomotricist and scientific consultant QUID +, the educational line of Gribaudo – Feltrinelli Groupwas involved in the creation of the game box “Touch, explore and learn” which supports the development of fine motor skills in children from 0 to 3 years. He therefore explains to the parents what not to do for the motor development of their children.
First steps, safe but free
With a premise: absolute freedom, in safety. «The quality of the child’s walk depends on the quality of his actions in the environment. The adult must observe the child as he begins to move independently by crawling, crawling or on the bottom. Prepare a suitable and safe space composed of a series of curious objects to explore and placed at different heights. And leave your child free to try to reach them, making mistakes and trying again until they find the best strategy. Clearly, the support of the parent is fundamental, but always respecting the times and the freedom of the child ».
The advice is to dedicate a space to him, perhaps with a nice carpet and areas where the little one can lean or cling during attemptsbefore passing in an upright position and after “coastal navigation”, that is the lateral walk with the hands resting on a plane.
First No: Don’t teach
On average, the autonomous path is achieved around 15 months, the same for all the cultures of the world from northern Europe to central Africa. It is a natural process, as amply demonstrated by the studies of pediatricians and pedagogists such as Pikler, Montessori, Prechtl, Brazelton, Milani Comparetti. Therefore, you don’t need to do anything to make it happen – tips and tricks found on the net can be seriously trashed. The role of the adult must be that of emotional reassurance, presence and closeness but not a substitute for the child, who must be free to experiment with his own motor skills with interest, albeit in safety.
Do not rush
Generally children they begin to walk independently around the first year of age, but it is essential to respect the individual variability of each of themwhich are affected by various factors such as: genetic predisposition, nature, build, living environment and use of aids. The advice is to be patient and discreet observers of your child learning to respect his times, recognizing his skills and accepting small failures. Falling is the best way to learn more effective and functional motor strategies.
Don’t make comparisons
Do not put unnecessary pressure on the child: this can only threaten the self-esteem of the child, reducing his genuine curiosity and joy of putting himself to the test. The parent will notice, observing him more carefully, that only by leaving him free to explore and experiment with his motor skills, the movements will become more fluid, various, functional and performed with such safety as to make the child satisfied in his movement.
Do not use the walker (better a box)
In the 80s and 90s he was the child’s best friend. But a 2018 study, the American Academy of Pediatrics put a real veto on the use of the walker. Because? At the postural and motor level it does not allow the lower limb to perceive the actual weight of the body and train to support it, finding harmony between the muscular forces necessary to maintain first the upright position and then the dynamic balance in the advancement. Just like the “first-step braces”, it causes the use of poorly functional motor patterns and reduces the amount of effective motor experiences in favor of a greater dependence on the adult. Better trolleys, chairs or simply a box suitable to be pushed by the child, without the risk of overturning.
Do not make shoes wear prematurely
The first steps are done barefoot, in direct contact with the ground. It’s important to promote the formation of the arch of the foot (the feet of the little ones are naturally flat), but also to acquire as much perceptual information as possible, useful for the good evolution of standing and walking. When it is autonomous, it will be possible to choose light and enveloping footwear, of the “right” size and with a very very flexible sole.
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