Hesperian Health Guides
Activities to Encourage Rolling and Twisting
HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 35: Early Stimulation and Development Activities > Activities to Encourage Rolling and Twisting
Babies usually learn by themselves to roll over. But children who are developmentally delayed will learn faster with additional help and encouragement. Help the child learn first to lift and turn her head to the side, then her shoulders and body.
| Attract the child’s attention by holding a rattle or toy in front of her, | Encourage her to reach sideways for the toy, | |
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| then move the toy to one side, so the child turns her head and shoulders to follow it. | then move the toy upward, so that she twists onto her side and back. | |
| If she does not roll over after various tries, help her by lifting her leg. | Also, help the child learn to roll from her back onto her side. Again, have her reach for a toy held to one side. |
Come get the rattle. Good girl!
If the child has spasticity, you may need to help position this arm before she can roll over. |
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Note: If the child is very stiff, before doing other exercises or activities,
| first help to relax him by swinging his legs back and forth, | or curl up the child in a “ball” and slowly roll his hips and legs |  Try to reach the fish! Good boy! |
Or twist his body to one side and then the other. Have him help by reaching for something he likes. Praise him when he does it. |
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 from side
to side |
Remember: The first rule of therapy: help only as much as needed, encouraging the child to do more and more for herself.
This page was updated:25 Nov 2024