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It is said that you have to walk before you can run. It is equally true that you have to stand before you can walk. And not only stand, but stand correctly.
The first stage of teaching independent standing is to let the child experience what standing in an upright position feels like. This helps to teach the brain about maintaining the correct relationship between the body and the centre of gravity.
By placing support above the child’s head, the body is kept as straight as possible. An overhead bar is a practical and simple means of providing this support.
As well as teaching about posture and the centre of gravity, standing under an overhead bay helps to build up ankle, leg and trunk strength, and also helps to improve head control.
Some assistance may be required at the beginning, such as helping the child to hold on to the bar and lock the legs straight, but this assistance should gradually be reduced as the child’s strength and control develops.
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