Squats/ Wall Squats

Purpose:

To strengthen the muscles that straighten the knee and help maintain the child upright for standing and walking. 

Directions:

Have the child stand against a wall with the feet about shoulder-width apart. Ask the child to squat down toward the floor. Only the child’s bottom (not the back) should touch the wall for support. Then ask the child to straighten up to return to a full-standing position. 

Important:   

• Do not allow the child to turn the knees inward or press the thighs together. This can often be prevented with gentle outward pressure from your hands. 

Make it fun! Have the child move small items from the floor or a low stool to a table or a higher stool. Use items such as building blocks to stack, rings to place on a ring stacker, or pegs to place in a pegboard.