Prone and kneeling activities

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Some thoughts about crawling 
A series of posts in response to Mindy Silva's question: Why do infants "bunny hop"?
About the neonate to crawling series 
Variability, learning to balance in prone kneeling and early crawling
What abilities are needed for reciprocal crawling? 
​Prone kneeling: strength, coordination, stability and balance requirements

Development in prone 
From prone lying, up into kneeling and crawling 

Assessment of atypical development in prone
Observation and adaptation of the environment to elicit prone behaviors 

Although infants with atypical development may not tolerate being prone on a flat surface, there are other options for providing infants with opportunities to develop the neck and trunk flexibility and muscle strength promoted by spent time in prone, as well as the ability to take weight on the UEs in preparation crawling. 

The TOMT&T assessment includes items that  allow the therapist to identify different  ways in which the physical environment can be adapted to allow the infant to assume a prone lying position, develop trunk extension in prone and start to explore possibilities for taking weight on the UE.

Training activities

 

  • Kneeling at a low step

    Infants who dislike tummy time will often be quite happy when positioned on their tummies at a low block. In this position it is easier to push up on the arms, look ahead  and to start reaching for toys with one hand. 

    R 10m kneeling at block 5_2.jpg

  • Sitting to kneeling at a block

    Max 13m sit kneel transition 2.jpgIn this video clip you see the impact of the position of the hips on the infants ability to move from sitting to kneeling at a low block. 

  • Sitting to kneeling - using Nana's body for help and support

    In this clip you see Roan and her Nana Pam (grandmother) playing. My objective was to get Roan to move from sitting into kneeling. My legs provide support for her attempts to reach  toys which I  present just out of reach. 

  • Practice playing when kneeling at a low block

    Playing when kneeling at a low block provides opportunities for exploring kneeling as a position, transferring weight, and strengthening the arms in readiness for crawling. 

  • Crawling on different surfaces

    Crawling up a slope.jpgOnce an infant has mastered the basics of crawling, it is a good idea to provide him/her with opportunities for crawling up, onto and over different surfaces.