Kids Physio is a group of private physiotherapy clinics specializing in care for babies, kids and teens. We see a variety of conditions ranging from baby milestone development, sport injuries, aches & pains, to a variety of diagnoses such as Autism and Cerebral Palsy. Silvana is a physiotherapist and owner of our Cambie Kids Physio location. She has over 5 years of experience working in private pediatrics and will be providing expert tips and advice for parents of children in a variety of age groups.

We discussed all things related to babies in the Kidtropolis December Newsletter, and this time, we are going to be talking about all things related to toddlers. We will be discussing typical motor skill development in this age, tips and tricks to get them moving, as well as when you should seek physiotherapy for your toddler. We will provide similar information about school-aged kids, and teenagers in later newsletters, so stay tuned!

The toddler stage is crucial for motor skill development. Toddlers are supposed to go from just having learned to walk, to being able to run, climb, jump and kick a ball within a very short period of time! They are now learning more advanced skills, such as body awareness and coordination of movement, which enables them to play and participate in community activities. Every child develops at their own pace, so don't worry if your toddler isn't doing everything that his peers are doing. That being said, here are a few of the skills that we look for in these kiddos:

Running: increasing speed, being able to stop without falling
Walking on a narrow surface such as a beam or ledge
Walking up and down stairs independently and climbing structures
Jumping, hopping, skipping, and galloping
Balancing on one foot and walking on unstable surfaces without falling

To help promote the development of these skills, it is really important to provide toddlers with opportunities to explore their bodies and environments. Here are a few tips to try:

Try different environments: Trying a variety of spaces, terrains, and challenges allows toddlers to explore a wide range of movements and skills. Climbing, having races and doing obstacle courses are great ways to help your child figure out the gross motor skills they need. Take your toddler to play groups, to the playground, or classes (both structured and unstructured) like gymnastics and Kidtropolis to see other kids and learn from them (monkey see, monkey do!).
Animal walks: Pretending to move like different animals is an excellent tool we use in therapy often. Bear and crab crawling are effective for working on core and glute strength. Frog sits and hops are helpful for working on lower extremity strength and range of motion. Flamingo stands are wonderful for working on balance. All of these activities help develop body awareness and are oh so fun!
Walking barefoot: Barefoot walking is important for developing the small muscles of the feet. Have your child try walking barefoot on soft surfaces and different textures that challenge their balance.
Bonus: try doing any of these activities while singing a song! This helps to ensure that kids are breathing and not holding their breath, which is a common compensation pattern.

Sometimes, even if you provide your child with all of the appropriate opportunities for development, they may still fall behind their peers. If you are concerned that your child isn't learning skills that they have been exposed to, don't hesitate to ask. The main reasons we recommend seeing a pediatric physiotherapist for your toddler are:

Trips and falls: All toddlers fall; however, if your child is tripping and falling every day or noticeably more than peers, it is a good idea to take a closer look.
Running pattern inefficiency: Arm swing, stride length, speed and coordination are important components of running. These skills slowly develop as toddlers learn how to run. If a child is having a hard time with running, we can see which of these areas are affected, and help improve the overall pattern by addressing the underlying cause.
Toe walking: It is normal for new walkers to walk on their toes at times; however, it may be a concern if a child is still toe walking after 3 years of age, or if their only walking pattern is on their toes. Persistent toe walking can be problematic later on and is best addressed early.
W-sitting: This type of sitting position is not ideal for the joints at the hips, knees and ankles, and can potentially lead to issues as kids grow. We always want to encourage kids to sit “criss-cross applesauce” and to never remain in W-sitting for prolonged periods of time (using it as a transitional position is fine). There are many reasons why children W-sit, so if your child prefers this position despite cueing, we would recommend a physiotherapy assessment.

Silvana Echeverri, BSc MPT
Physiotherapist, Owner
Kids Physio Group - Cambie

KIDS PHYSIO GROUP: TODDLERS