Why children shouldn’t sit in the W position

 How to prevent children sitting in the W position

Do you have children in your nursery that sits in the W position? Have you ever wondered how this might be affecting their development?

What is the W-Sitting position?

The W sitting position is when children will sit with their legs out to the side and will make the shape of a W. Children will sit in this position for long periods of time whilst playing with toys or reading a book. For some children this sitting position becomes the norm and they automatically sit in this position. Sitting like this can become a habit; if this carries on after their 2nd birthday it can begin to affect their development,

So how can this W sitting position affects children’s development?

As children sit for periods of time in this position they begin to establish a base of support, however this prevents children from developing their actual core strength muscles and balance eg tummy muscles. If children are unable to develop these core muscles it can have affects on their gross motors skills and will cause difficulties in developing skills such as jumping and running.  If children’s sitting positions are not corrected children begin to spread the amount of support over a wider base, this then causes their body to rely on joint structures and not their muscles to hold them up whilst playing. Sitting in the W position can also lead to tightness in the legs, hips and ankles, this could also lead to the possibility of hip dislocation and can put the child’s spine into a curved position You may begin to notice that children who sit in this position may start to walk with their toes turned in, you may notice they lose their balance for frequently and trip over frequently. Not only will this have an effect on children sitting down on the floor it can also cause difficulties sitting at a desk or table as children will need to use their hands for support themselves preventing them from using their hands to hold a toy or a pencil to draw with.

Ways to help children who sit in the W position

• If you notice a child sitting in this position correct their position otherwise this may become a habit
• Let the children rest their backs against a wall or chair and encourage them to sit with their feet forward whilst their back is supported.
• Sitting cross legged is another option however this position can also over a long period of time start to affect children’s hip joints.
• To help build the core muscles encourage children to sit at a 90 degree position when sitting in a chair.

If children persist in sitting in the W sitting position it may be worth speaking to parents who can then contact a doctor or health visitor or may refer the child to a physiotherapist for further help and advice.