I think crawling is one of the most important skills for a child to master. Hands down!
I can’t tell you how many times I have had a parent joke about their kiddo skipping crawling and my reply to them is always, “not on my watch!”.
So why is crawling so important?? I’m so glad you asked.
Crawling facilitates:
~ bilateral motor coordination
~ proximal joint stability
~ palmar arch building
~ body awareness/ proprioception
~ upper extremity strength & stability
~ tactile registration & awareness
~ postural stability
~ visual system
~ strengthening of the structures needed for breathing, talking, & eating
~ reflex integration
~ separation of the sides of the hands
~ motor planning
There is even a bunch of research coming out that points to delays later on in childhood (i.e. handwriting or fine motor) in kiddos who skipped crawling altogether or crawled in compensatory positions like crab crawling or scooting on their bottom.
But crawling isn’t just for little kids and it isn’t just for kids that aren’t walking yet, I make even my older kiddos get into crawling positions to complete activities because of the immense benefits.
The ABCs of OT was created by Shannen Marie. For more #otmonth fun, follow along to see what the rest of the alphabet has in store.
What’s your C-word for the ABCs of OT?
