In a world where children are constantly stimulated by screens, schedules, and structured activities, one foundational skill often gets overlooked: body awareness. It sounds simple, almost too simple—but helping kids understand, feel, and navigate their own bodies is one of the most powerful tools we can give them. It shapes how they move, how they learn, and even how they feel about themselves.

So, now you are asking why body awareness matters so much and how it helps set kids up for a lifetime of confidence and well-being.

Body awareness (also called proprioception) is a child’s ability to recognize where their body is in space and how it moves. It’s the quiet, behind-the-scenes skill that supports almost everything else they do. It’s the internal sense that helps them:

• Know how much force to use when writing or throwing a ball
• Understand how to move through a crowded room without bumping into things
• Coordinate their limbs during play, sports, or dance
• Feel grounded and in control of their bodies

What Does Body Awareness Help With?

Here are some ways that promoting a child’s body awareness helps:

• Better Motor Skills – Kids with strong body awareness move with more confidence. They climb, jump, balance, and explore with ease. This isn’t just about sports—it’s about feeling capable in their own skin.
• Improved Learning – Believe it or not, body awareness is deeply tied to cognitive development. When kids can sit comfortably, control their posture, and coordinate their hands, they are more ready for writing, reading, and focusing in class.
• Emotional Regulation – A child who understands their body can better understand their feelings. Movement is one of the most natural ways for kids to process emotions. Body awareness helps them recognize when they’re overwhelmed, restless, or tired—and respond in healthier ways.
• Social Confidence – Kids who feel physically competent tend to engage more in group play. They’re less hesitant to join games, try new activities, or interact with peers.
• Safety and Independence – From navigating playground equipment to crossing the street, body awareness helps kids judge distance, speed, and risk. It’s a key ingredient in developing independence.

Developing body awareness isn’t just about physical skills. It’s about helping kids feel at home in their bodies—connected, confident, and capable. When children understand themselves physically, they move through the world with more ease and joy. And in a time when so much pulls them outward, body awareness gently brings them back to themselves.

So let them move! Let them explore! Let them discover what their amazing bodies can do!

Activities

Here are some simple activity ideas that help build body awareness in kids. Helping kids understand their bodies does not have to be complicated. Make it fun!! These playful activities work on strength, coordination, balance, and confidence.

• Animal Walks – bear crawl, crab walk, frog jumps are all great for whole body coordination
• Freeze Dance – move stop and repeat. This builds control and listening skills
• Kids Yoga – Simple yoga poses like tree, star, cobra, downward dog help with balancing and grounding.
• Obstacle Courses – crawl under, jump over, balance across – these are amazing for spatial awareness.
• Balance Play Activities – walk on taped lines, parking blocks, standing on one-foot, balancing bean bag on head.
• “Move Like…” – move like various animals, move like a sloth, move like a cheetah… fun ways to boost imagination and motor control.
• Nature Play – climbing logs, climbing trees, hopping on rocks, playing on uneven ground builds natural body awareness.
• Sensory Art / Exploration – Finger paint, clay, sand, playdough, slime – helps kids explore pressure, texture and movement.
• Breathing Games – belly breathing blowing bubbles, “smell the flower”, “blow out the candles”

Shoulder weakness is more than “a tired arm.” It’s a functional challenge that can influence how a child plays, moves, explores, and participates in daily routines. Understanding what shoulder weakness actually is—and what it isn’t—is the first step toward building strength, confidence, and independence.

f you’re concerned about your child’s strength, coordination, or development, it can be helpful to understand what’s typical—this parent-friendly resource from HealthyChildren offers a helpful overview of child development and movement skills.

What is Shoulder Weakness?

Shoulder weakness refers to reduced strength, stability, or endurance in the muscles that support and move the shoulder complex. This includes the:

• Rotator cuff muscles (stabilizers that keep the shoulder joint centered)
• Scapular muscles (like the trapezius, serratus anterior, and rhomboids)
• Deltoids (lifters and movers of the arm)
• Upper arm muscles (biceps and triceps, which assist with positioning and control)

When these muscles aren’t working efficiently, the shoulder can’t provide the stable base needed for fine motor skills, gross motor play, or coordinated movement.

Why Shoulder Strength Matters

The shoulder is the foundation for almost every upper‑body task. Weakness here can affect:

• Reaching and lifting (placing items on shelves, carrying toys)
• Play skills (throwing, climbing, swinging, pushing, pulling)
• Fine motor control (writing, cutting, dressing, feeding)
• Postural endurance (sitting upright at a table, maintaining alignment)
• Bilateral coordination (holding paper while writing, stabilizing during tasks)

When the shoulder isn’t strong enough, children often compensate with inefficient patterns—like leaning, using two hands for tasks that should require one, or avoiding certain movements altogether.

What Causes Shoulder Weakness?

Shoulder weakness can arise from a variety of factors, including:

• Low muscle tone
• Delayed motor development
• Neuromuscular conditions
• Injury or immobilization
• Poor postural stability
• Limited exposure to weight‑bearing or climbing play
• Sensory processing differences that impact body awareness or motor planning

Understanding the “why” helps guide the “how” when it comes to intervention.

What Does This Look Like in Daily Life?

Children with shoulder weakness may:

• Fatigue quickly during tabletop tasks
• Avoid climbing, pushing, or pulling activities
• Use their whole body to stabilize instead of isolating arm movements
• Struggle with midline crossing or overhead reaching
• Lean heavily on the table while writing or coloring
• Hold writing utensils with excessive pressure or awkward grips
• Show decreased accuracy in throwing or catching

These signs aren’t about effort—they’re about capacity. And capacity can be strengthened. Activities like drawing or playing on vertical surfaces can be especially helpful for building shoulder strength. Therapy will address shoulder weakness by building strength, improving coordination, and enhancing body awareness through engaging, purposeful activities. By connecting these gains to everyday skills like writing, dressing, and play, therapy makes progress both meaningful and lasting—while keeping kids motivated through fun, play-based approaches.

When we think about children growing strong, we often focus on arms and legs. But one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of development for kids is core strength development. The core includes the muscles of the abdomen, back, and hips, and these muscles play a major role in posture, balance, movement, and everyday activities.

What Is Core Strength Development?

Core strength development refers to how children build strength and control in the muscles that support the spine and pelvis. These muscles help children sit upright, stand steadily, and move with coordination. Strong trunk muscles provide a stable base for the arms and legs to work effectively. Healthy trunk development supports many areas of a child’s growth, including:

• Posture – Sitting and standing upright without fatigue
• Balance and coordination – Staying steady during play and movement
• Motor skills – Improving crawling, walking, running, and jumping
• Fine motor skills – Helping with writing, drawing, and feeding
• Breathing and endurance – Supporting proper breathing patterns

Children with weaker trunk muscles may tire easily, slouch when sitting, or struggle with coordination and balance.

How Does it Develop?

Over time trunk strength develops gradually as children grow and move:

• Infancy: Lifting the head, rolling, and sitting with support
• Toddlerhood: Sitting independently, standing, walking, and climbing
• Preschool years: Improved balance, jumping, and coordinated play
• School age: Better posture, endurance for sitting, and complex movements

Each stage builds on the previous one, making early movement and play especially important. Every child develops at their own pace. However, there are some signs suggesting a child may have a delay in core strength development, such as:

• Difficulty sitting upright without support
• Frequent slouching or leaning on furniture
• Poor balance or frequent falls
• Fatigue during play or seated activities
• Trouble with tasks like handwriting or dressing

If parents notice these concerns, discussing them with a pediatric physical or occupational therapist can be helpful. Early intervention can greatly improve strength, coordination, and daily function.

The good news is that PLAY is the best way to build core strength. Simple, fun activities at home can make a big difference:

• Tummy time for infants
• Crawling, climbing, and floor play
• Sitting on the floor instead of always in chairs
• Dancing, yoga, or animal walks
• Playing on playground equipment like swings and climbing frames

These activities strengthen trunk muscles naturally and encourage confidence in movement. For more information and activities to try at home to build core strength, visit Pink Oatmeal.

The development of core strength in kids is a vital foundation for a child’s overall growth. Strong core muscles support movement, learning, and independence. By encouraging active play and healthy movement from an early age, parents can help their children build a strong, stable base for lifelong physical development.

When we think about AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), often we think of the idea of alternative communication. We think of children who are non-speaking or minimally-speaking and are learning another (alternative) system for communication such as American Sign Language or use of a Speech Generating Device (SGD). This is often an iPad or tablet with a robust communication software installed. Other common AAC systems include picture exchange systems, buttons, switches, and low-tech talkers with pre-programmed phrases. But how do we use these systems to augment communication? When might a speech therapist recommend trialing AAC as a form of augmented communication for people capable of spoken communication?

            By definition augmentative means to increase or have the power to increase, highlighting the ability of AAC to increase communication. Most of us use forms of augmentative communication throughout our day without even realizing it. Talking with our hands, using gestures and facial expressions, and writing a text instead of placing a call are all ways in which people augment communication.

Sometimes, though perhaps not as often as we should, speech therapists may recommend AAC systems for individuals with seemingly typical or functional spoken language skills for communication. Often referred to as part-time AAC users, these people often have functional spoken language expression, but may require use of an SGD due to limited speech clarity, difficulty with word finding, or when the brain is overwhelmed and it is difficult for the individual to access the higher cognitive functions like language.

Augmentative Communication Resources

Check out this episode of Two Sides of the Spectrum podcast. You can hear more from a part-time AAC user about their experience. You can also learn more about the six primary communication functions of AAC here.

In Montana, we have a great program called MonTECH. MonTECH is a statewide program that helps Montana residents find, try, and access assistive technology. They offer free consultations, equipment loans, training, and low-cost financing options to improve daily life, work, and mobility. You can see some of the low, mid, and high tech AAC options available to Montana residents through MonTECH here.

If you’ve ever noticed your child sitting on the floor with their knees bent and feet tucked out to the sides—forming a “W” shape—you’re not alone. This position, known as W-sitting, is very common in young children. As occupational therapists, we get asked about it all the time.

What Is W-Sitting?

W-sitting is when a child sits on their bottom with their knees bent in front of them and their feet positioned outside their hips, creating a “W” shape.

Why Do Kids W-Sit?

Children often choose this position because:

• It gives them more stability
• It requires less core strength
• It feels comfortable and familiar

Is W-Sitting Bad?

Occasional W-sitting is not a problem. However, if it becomes a child’s preferred or constant position, it may impact development over time. From an occupational therapy perspective, frequently sitting like this can affect:

• Core strength
• Balance and coordination
• Posture
• Ability to rotate the trunk (important for play and later skills like writing)
• Using both sides of the body together
• Crossing Midline

When Should Parents Pay Attention?

You may want to monitor it more closely if your child:

• Almost always sits in a W position
• Has difficulty sitting in other positions
• Seems a bit clumsy or off-balance
• Avoids reaching across their body
• Tires easily during play

What Can Parents Do?

Parents can help by encouraging other sitting and play positions. These positions could include criss-cross, side sitting, tall kneeling, and long sitting (legs straight out.) It is also beneficial to keep practice fun and encouraging to the child. Parents can build strength through play with activities such as climbing at the playground, crawling games, obstacle courses, playing on hands and knees, and sitting on small chairs of stools. Gently prompting your child with cues such as “fix your legs” with a light, encouraging tone can help guide your child.

When to Seek Support

If W-sitting is frequent and paired with other concerns (like delays or coordination challenges), an occupational therapist can help assess underlying skills and provide simple, effective strategies. W-sitting isn’t something to panic about—but it’s something to be aware of. Think of it as a small signal that your child may benefit from building strength and stability.

Hand-eye coordination is the connection between what the eyes see and how the hands respond. This skill plays an important role in a child’s development. It forms the foundation for fine motor skills such as feeding or drawing, as well as gross motor skills like catching a ball or climbing on playground equipment.

For many children, hand-eye coordination develops naturally through play and exploration. However, some children may struggle with timing, accuracy, or using both hands together. When this happens, activities like sports, playground games, or crafts can become frustrating, and children may begin to avoid active play.

How Pediatric Therapy Supports Hand-Eye Coordination

Pediatric physical therapists and occupational therapists often work together to help children build stronger coordination skills. Therapy focuses on more than just catching or throwing. Therapists also help children strengthen the muscles needed for movement, improve visual tracking, and practice planning coordinated actions.

By supporting these underlying skills, therapists help children move more confidently and successfully during everyday activities.

Why Early Support Matters

Early support can make a meaningful difference for children experiencing coordination challenges. When children receive help early, they are more likely to avoid frustration and gain confidence in their movement abilities.

With practice and support, children begin to develop smoother and more accurate movements. Their bodies learn to anticipate and respond to challenges with better control. Strong hand-eye coordination allows children to explore their environment, participate in play, and build confidence that supports lifelong movement and learning.