You moved to the fourth stage, having mastered and consolidated the program of the previous three, i.e. Has your child learned to stand up actively, crawl and turn around on all fours, sit correctly and stand at support on high knees and feet? It's time to study the program of a new stage!
If these skills are not available to your child or are not being done automatically, it is worth returning to the previous steps.
Tasks of the fourth stage
Problems of the fourth stage
A child who has gone through all the stages of development according to the IDA (ideal development algorithm) and can stand independently at the support will begin to walk without any outside help. Moreover, such «help» can often be a disservice. Stimulating walking by holding hands, using walkers and jumpers can delay the physiological formation of movements. The same practice applied to a child who does not necessary skills according to IDA can lead to the development of pathological actions and in severe cases can cause CP (Cerebral Palsy).
Nowadays, we can quite often meet children who know how to stand up at the support, but who do not know how to crawl. The main reason is a disorder of the natural sequence of development (IDA). In such a situation, it is necessary to stop completely the stimulation of vertical positions, to master sequentially the exercises of the second and third stages, providing corresponding to these stages’ conditions of everyday routine; motivate a child to move independently around the residence.
Standing up from two legs at the same time most often means the presence of lower central paraparesis, which is usually accompanied by a disorder of feet installation and requires an emphasis on the exercise «low start».
EVERYDAY ROUTINE. EXERCISES OF THE FOURTH STAGE
4.1
Games standing at supports with the height of the child navel or a little bit higher contribute to the separation of hands from the surface during manipulations. Being involved, a child plays, gradually losing contact with the support.
4.2
Stimulation of walking along low supports. A child is standing by the sofa with the feet shoulder-width apart. We are forcing them to make independent side steps inside.
4.3
We draw the attention of the child standing near the low support on the side (at arm's length) with the placed object. If the child reaches with the hand, but they are afraid to make a step, we cover the palm of the outstretched hand, making it easier to make step-close. We increase the number of steps alternately in both directions at low support.
4.4
Stimulation of walking along the walls. With the help of interesting pictures (objects) located on the wall at the level of the child’s head in a standing position, we stimulate the child’s movement to them from low supports.
4.5
If a child has X-shaped legs, we make conditions for standing astride with the help of valgus feet placing or the «GOAT».
With the formed habit of sitting in a W-shaped position, we fight with it using the «CATERPILLAR» and «TUBE».
EVERYDAY ROUTINE. EVERYDAY ROUTINE COMPONENTS OF THE FOURTH STAGE
For any child who has learned to stand up independently, the following conditions must be created.
Independent activities are organized under the principles set above.
The position on the hands of an adult, the position and conditions for sitting and feeding are similar to those used in the third stage. The bathing position does not matter.