Do You Encourage Children To "Fix Their Legs" When In The "W" Sit?

[Blackcat31]

here is an example of what I mean

Yep, I sit just like that almost all the time.

Either "W" or squatting. (My DH jokes that I was an Aborigine in my previous life. )

[canadiancare]

Yep, I sit just like that almost all the time.

Either "W" or squatting. (My DH jokes that I was an Aborigine in my previous life. )

squatting is really good for you. I try to tidy up in either a squat or a lunge motion. Got to get the exercise in where I can.

[itlw8]

I sat that way as a kid I was really limber. I also sat with my legs wide and my elbows down on the floor. Funny thing will all my joint problems my hips are still fine. Dr said that had nothing to do with my knee problems either.

excess weight, wide hips that are good for childbirth , marching band and trampoline in HS mostly being an overweight woman mostly cause my knee problems... oh an my use of diet soda carbonation is really bad for joints.

[Starburst]

Anytime we played or were on the floor during circle time when I was a kid our teachers would always say "criss cross apple sauce" and everyone would do it- I don't think I have really ever seen kids sit W style. I never remember sitting like that but I would sometiems kneel or sit on my feet and that hurts after a while.

[Brooksie]

I have a question for you guys. I have a little 9 mo old who does a half W sit. Not the full blown, but one of his legs is bent back while the other stick straight out in front. It looks like his leg it broken when he does it. I do a similar move in yoga but the bent leg comes around the front. Does this fall into the same category? I always try to correct him but I was just wondering what you guys would think of this.

[Starburst]

I have a question for you guys. I have a little 9 mo old who does a half W sit. Not the full blown, but one of his legs is bent back while the other stick straight out in front. It looks like his leg it broken when he does it. I do a similar move in yoga but the bent leg comes around the front. Does this fall into the same category? I always try to correct him but I was just wondering what you guys would think of this.

I think that sould have its own name. Like a partial "W" or a lower case "h" style.

[canadiancare]

I have a question for you guys. I have a little 9 mo old who does a half W sit. Not the full blown, but one of his legs is bent back while the other stick straight out in front. It looks like his leg it broken when he does it. I do a similar move in yoga but the bent leg comes around the front. Does this fall into the same category? I always try to correct him but I was just wondering what you guys would think of this.

I think 9 months is young to worry about it. They are just working out their balance. If you see his sitting doesn't evolve with age/development then I might be concerned. The main thing is to watch for movement/displacement while playing. A kid who sits in a W without moving, adjusting their legs is the one you worry about. The kid who transitions between a bunch of different positions is fine.

[jokalima]

Never thought about it as something that is negative for them. I usually don't tell them how to sit only during group time and when eating at the table.

[lolaland]

I have always done so and I have also noticed more and more that my weaker kids developmentally are the ones who sit that way.

I am thinking of doing some research to write a paper on the W sit and I was wondering if any of you have similar experience.

When my daughter was 3 years old and waiting for an evaluation for autism, the Physical Therapist in the Public School Department said that, between many other examples, my daughter sitting on the floor like a W was one of the signs for autism. This made me cry for hours and since then I will not allow any child in my presence to sit in that manner... I will/would always say “pretzel legs, please”

[Brooksie]

I think that sould have its own name. Like a partial "W" or a lower case "h" style.

lower case h teehee

[melilley]

My daughter used to sit like that when she was younger. She is 10 now, I guess she grew out of it. She doesn't have any problems, but I could see problems arising if she still sat like that!

[rmc20021]

I've never paid attention to this before so I don't even know if my kids do it or not...I DO know that earlier I was sitting on a bean bag myself in this fashion and had the hardest time getting up, and when I did, my knees hurt really bad. So I can absolutely see how it can be a problem...just thought it was me being old.

I will pay more attention to the kids though...

[lolaland]

When my daughter was 3 years old and waiting for an evaluation for autism, the Physical Therapist in the Public School Department said that, between many other examples, my daughter sitting on the floor like a W was one of the signs for autism. This made me cry for hours and since then I will not allow any child in my presence to sit in that manner... I will/would always say “pretzel legs, please”

By the way... my daughter overcame her “autistic signs” and is now a very bright and very healthy 7 year old girl!! happyface

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I still sit like this and I am nearly 25. Before I was pregnant, I'd sleep like this as well. My parents and my husband called it "froggy position."
Guess I'd better stop....

Funny that it's a sign for autism. I have Asperger's.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I have had a girl in my care since she was a year and a half. She'll be going to Kindergarten this fall Anyway, I've noticed her sitting like that quite a bit, and her mom and myself have tried to remind her to sit in another way whenever we see her sit that way, but it is the hardest habit to break. She still does it sometimes and it's been over a year since we started trying to break the habit of sitting like that. I've noticed she runs differently than other children who do not sit in the W position. Her legs kind of go out to the side from her knees when she's running.