We believe in fostering a child’s development through play and hands-on activities. Play is a pivotal aspect of childhood learning, and activities like sliding can have an immense impact on a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. One fascinating development milestone that many parents wonder about is when children start learning to slide side to side. Whether on slides in a playground or at home, sliding is more than just fun. It’s a developmental activity that promotes a variety of physical skills, from coordination to balance. This article will explore how, when, and why children start learning to slide side to side, and the important milestones along the way. At The Kids Point, we are committed to supporting parents and children through every exciting developmental stage.
The Importance of Sliding in Early Childhood Development
Sliding side to side, whether it’s side-to-side movements on a sliding board or moving from one point to another in a controlled manner, requires significant muscle development, coordination, and a strong sense of body awareness. While this may seem like a simple movement, it’s packed with physical and neurological benefits for young children.
Children’s development is driven by sensory input from their environments. During their early years, they are constantly working on improving their motor skills, such as fine motor (hand-eye coordination) and gross motor skills (movements involving large muscle groups). The act of sliding side to side helps reinforce balance, coordination, and muscle control, making it a key movement for toddlers and preschool-aged kids.
Milestones of Physical Development Leading to Side-to-Side Sliding
Before kids start learning to slide side to side, they need to reach several critical milestones in their development. These milestones help build the skills necessary for more complex movements and activities. Here’s a breakdown of the typical stages of development leading up to the ability to move side to side effectively:
Early Movement Skills: Crawling and Rolling
From birth to 12 months, infants work on their basic movement skills. These fundamental movements form the foundation for more advanced activities, such as sliding side to side. While most children aren’t moving side to side yet at this age, they’re building the muscles and coordination they’ll need. Crawling, rolling, and pivoting are essential movements that help build the necessary strength for more complex tasks.
By 6 months, babies begin to roll over and push up on their arms, getting their heads off the floor. This increase in upper body strength is crucial for later movement. Even though it’s not side-to-side movement in the traditional sense, this phase lays the groundwork for balance and coordination needed in future activities like sliding.
Cruising and Early Walking (12-18 months)
Between 12 and 18 months, children reach another big milestone in their development: walking. However, they don’t walk independently right away. Most toddlers take their first steps around 12 months, but they tend to “cruise” along furniture, sliding one foot in front of the other, while holding onto surfaces for balance. These movements aren’t technically sliding side to side, but they do provide children with the ability to understand weight shifting and leg coordination—fundamental elements needed for side-to-side movements on a slide.
As toddlers gain more confidence in walking, their ability to balance and shift their weight more fluidly increases, bringing them closer to learning how to slide side to side. It’s during this time that many children start experimenting with swinging their body weight from one side to another, helping them build more control.
Mastering Balance and Coordination (18-24 months)
Around 18-24 months, toddlers start developing more refined skills. They are capable of standing without support for a longer time and may begin moving more confidently in space. This marks the beginning of more advanced play activities, and many children during this stage start exploring small, low slides. They may start learning how to climb up and slide down, and it’s during this phase that you’ll often see them practicing simple lateral movements (side-to-side swaying or shifting) on their feet.
Balance and coordination are increasingly refined at this stage. A toddler may start turning or twisting their body to adjust their position, which is crucial when attempting side-to-side sliding motions. Additionally, this is when they become more aware of spatial awareness—understanding their own body’s placement in space and how it relates to the surroundings.
When Can Kids Start Sliding Side to Side?
So, when do kids actually start learning to slide side to side? The typical age range is between 2 and 3 years old, though some children may begin earlier or later than this depending on their development. Here’s what you can expect when your child is learning this new skill:
Using Toys, Slides, and Obstacles (2 to 2.5 years)
At 2 to 2.5 years, many toddlers are starting to understand how to use slides, either indoors or on playground equipment. At this point, they might be able to move from side to side while climbing up and down smaller slides, learning how to shift their body weight in different directions for balance.
Side-to-side movements aren’t limited to playground slides, however. Toddlers may also experiment with toys like a baby riding slide, slide boards, or even by pushing their bodies against large pillows, cushions, or obstacle course-style layouts designed for younger children. Such activities provide them with practice in stabilizing their core and coordinating their legs and arms to move their body from side to side.
Improved Balance and Coordination (2.5 to 3 years)
By 2.5 to 3 years old, toddlers have usually mastered basic side-to-side sliding motions. They understand how to balance themselves while twisting or bending side-to-side. For example, when climbing on a toy or jungle gym, they can move their legs or shift their bodies without falling over, demonstrating an essential element of sliding movements.
Many playgrounds have slides designed for toddlers, with slight inclines and supportive railings. Children around this age are able to move down these slides with more control, gently sliding side to side while in motion. More advanced kids in this age range may be able to climb on bigger slides, and they can successfully engage in side-to-side sliding movements while they’re playing.
Side-to-Side Sliding on Larger Playgrounds (3+ years)
Once children turn 3 years old, they are often ready for more challenging playground equipment and larger slides. During this stage, they may be able to attempt slides with more speed, while still safely sliding from one side to another on the way down. Playgrounds may have more advanced designs, such as slides with gentle curves where children can slide down with increased speed and attempt to adjust their body positioning accordingly.
Even at this age, it’s vital for parents to maintain supervision, but many kids can confidently slide down on their own with less assistance, showing the growth of their balance and coordination abilities. It is important to remember that side-to-side sliding can be learned with practice and is an important milestone toward overall physical literacy, which will support other physical challenges they will face.
The Role of Play in Sliding Development
We emphasize the importance of play as a learning tool. When it comes to developing sliding side-to-side abilities, regular opportunities for play that include equipment designed for climbing and sliding, even small obstacle courses, contribute to children’s improvement in these motor skills.
Additionally, it’s essential that children develop through cooperative play—playing with peers in environments where they can learn from each other. Playgrounds with varying sizes of slides are particularly effective for this, as they allow children to practice sliding at their own pace while also benefiting from learning by observing others.
Parents can encourage sliding side to side by creating home environments that inspire these types of activities. Children’s toys like riding bikes, scooters, or even simple toys that promote crawling can set the stage for improved coordination and balance, which are crucial for any side-to-side movement, including sliding.
Tips for Parents to Encourage Sliding Side to Side
Here are a few tips that parents can use to help encourage and teach children how to slide side to side:
- Be Patient: Development isn’t linear, and every child learns at their own pace. Don’t rush your child. Allow them to feel confident in each stage of development before advancing to more difficult activities.
- Supervise Play: Always supervise your child when they are practicing sliding, especially if they are on an unfamiliar piece of equipment. Slide safety is important for every child, especially at younger ages.
- Focus on Core Strength: Since balance is an essential part of sliding, incorporate activities that build core strength. Encourage your child to move through a variety of play equipment, jump on soft mattresses, or even dance.
- Offer Praise and Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate each step your child takes, whether it’s climbing up a slide for the first time or taking their first sideways slide motion. Positive reinforcement helps with building confidence and encourages progress.
- Have Fun Together: Ultimately, sliding side to side is about fun. The more your child enjoys the activity, the quicker they’ll be eager to master it. Have fun with them—take turns on slides or run alongside them while they practice.
As your child progresses from crawling to walking, they’ll eventually be able to experiment with new activities, including sliding side to side. The development of this ability is a mix of core muscle strength, balance, and coordination. At “The Kids Point,” we celebrate these milestones as essential steps in a child’s overall growth and learning. Encouraging safe, fun sliding activities helps your child develop both physically and cognitively, preparing them for more complex play and social situations ahead. Keep an eye on your child as they take on new challenges, and enjoy these key moments in their physical development!