Tips to Master Jumping!

Jumping is an exciting skill for children to learn, and opens up many opportunities for new ways to play and engage with their environment and peers. Most children learn to jump with a 2 foot take off and landing between the ages of 2 and 3, but some children may jump sooner or later than this.

Jumping is a skill that requires strength, balance, motor planning, motor coordination and body awareness.

Jumping can be a skill that is difficult to teach to children; here are some ways to encourage your child to jump and to help them learn to master the skill. 

Trampoline Jumping –

A small indoor trampoline with a handlebar is a great way for your child to practice jumping while supported, and allows them to use upper body strength until they are strong enough to rely on their lower body strength. Using a trampoline with a handlebar allows them to practice the appropriate mechanics of jumping (this can also be done with you holding their hands).

Frog Jumping –

Encourage your child to squat all the way to the floor like a frog, and then push up from the ground with both feet to jump! This cue can help them gain enough momentum to get their feet off the ground at the same time, and helps them learn the proper mechanics for jumping.

Jumping Onto/Into Something –

Jumping into a ball pit, swimming pool, or onto a crash pad allows your child to practice the 2 foot take off portion of a jump, without having to worry about landing on 2 feet! Once they are able to consistently take off with 2 feet, they may be more confident to attempt to jump with 2 feet on the floor and land without losing balance.

Jumping Down –

Jumping down from a small surface such as a curb or small step can be a great way for your child to practice jumping mechanics, without worrying as much about propelling themselves very far forward. You can start by holding both their hands, then slowly decrease the amount of support you are giving them until they are able to do it by themselves!

Jumping Over –

Sometimes when a child learns to jump with both feet clearing the floor, they still have a hard time propelling themselves forward when jumping. One way to encourage this is to place a small object on the floor that isn’t very tall, and have your child jump over the object. Having a goal of how far to jump over an object can help them learn to propel themselves forward. 

If your child is still struggling to jump with a 2 foot take off and landing by the age of 3, reach out to your pediatrician and have them send a referral for a physical therapy evaluation. Our physical therapists are here to help your child master jumping and any gross motor skill!