Hopping on one foot is a tricky skill to learn. A child has to first be able to balance on one foot but also be able to jump. In typical development, a child learns to stand on one foot and balance independently for up to 4 seconds by age 2 ½! Hopping forward with ease should occur by 5 years of age. If your kiddo’s single leg balance is a not yet perfected, here are good ways to practice the initial skills of balancing, BEFORE working towards hopping on one foot:
- + Yoga tree pose
- + Stepping over obstacles
- + Stomping on bubbles
- + Toe taps on a step
- + Balancing by placing one foot gently on a deflated ball
Next Up, Hopping Skills
Once some of these tasks have been mastered, or even just appear to be getting easier for your child, its time to practice some hopping skills!
When this begins, a child may not yet have enough strength or coordination just yet to push off with one foot. Here are a few progressions on how to get them more independent with those hopping skills:
- Hold both of their hands, low and in front of them and have them hop on one foot
- Have them hold a stable surface and hop (e.g. bar on trampoline)
- Have them hold an unstable surface and hop (e.g. stand on one foot holding onto the inside of the hula hoop and jump)
- Stand on one foot independently and hop to the other foot
- Play a game of hopscotch
- Have them pick a number to consecutively hop on one leg then switch legs
- Hop to the beat of a song
Reach Out for Extra Help
If your child is still having a hard time learning to hop, feel free to reach out to the skilled physical therapists at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center for an assessment to discuss overall gross motor skills at 773-687-9241.
