When you see your child sitting on their bottom with their knees bent in front and feet behind and to the side, it's best to correct them. Medical professionals say that although this may be common in children, particularly at the age of three, it could cause some health problems, such as hip dysplasia.
If you stand above your child while they sit in this manner, you will see their legs and body form the shape of a W. Although doctors say young kids will eventually grow out of this habit, it would be most fitting to correct them.
Small kids are more likely to sit like this during playtime since the W-sitting gives them wide base support while playing with toys on the ground. It may seem uncomfortable to adults, W-sitting allows children to have more internal hip rotation and feels comfortable with them.
Don't be so quick to ask them to change their position, though. Experts say that it's okay for a child to move into a W-position sometimes, as long as they don't sit like this for very long. They also advise making sure that they don't use it as their regular sitting position.
Why is W-sitting Harmful to Children?
According to the Child Development Center in Hong Kong, children depend less on their core muscles when they are W-sitting. This could cause a child's shoulder and wrist stability to become weak. This may affect their fine motor development.
The W-sitting position also causes stress on the hip and knee joints. If done frequently and for long periods, it can lead to long-term postural problems and low back pain.
In addition, this sitting position gives children fewer opportunities to shift their weight from side to side and rotate their torso when trying to reach out to play with toys on the floor.
According to professionals in the medical field, decreased trunk rotation also limits orientation between the left and right sides of the body, affecting a child's bilateral coordination. This is important for everyday activities such as buttoning shirts, writing, cutting, or using utensils for eating.
The sitting position also can tighten and shorten the muscles of the legs, which can cause 'pigeon-toed' walking. This can affect the child's ability to jump, run, climb, or ride a bike.
What to do When my Child Sits Like this?
If your toddler likes to W-sit, there are easy steps you can take to break their W-sitting habit. Remember not to scold them for sitting in such a way, but provide an explanation calmly and offer an alternative sitting position.
Point out gently that you would "fix their legs" whenever you see them sit in a W-position. You can offer your child a small chair as an alternative to sitting on the floor or encourage them to sit in a cross-legged, long-legged, or side sitting position.
Experts say that these are safe alternative sitting positions for children playing and sitting on the floor. Cross-legged sitting is the most common sitting position for children. Many call it "criss-cross applesauce."
The long-legged position, on the other hand, is where the child's legs are stretched out in front of them. Side sitting, on the other hand, is when knees are bent, and both legs are pointing towards the same side of the body.
