4 yr old can't hop

[shoots]

My dd just can't hop - does anyone else have a dc that can't at this age? She has noticed that all her classmates can do it during PE lessons. She does have some mild issues with her balance and was late walking but wondered if she is very behind on the hopping!

[Beamur]

My 4 yr old can do it, but finds it hard. She's started going to a dance class some weeks and it is something that the teacher gets them all to do - I think it is a harder skill for some than others. Some of the girls seem to do it easily and others (like mine) try and do a sort of loping skip instead.

[shoots]

Yes that is sort of what dd does too Beamur. She starts on one leg and ends up with a sort of skip/jump type effort! She doesn't seem to have the strength and can only stand on one leg for a few seconds.

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

mine can't either - she does exactly what you've described
she's always been a bit behind with gross and fine motor, but does tend to get there in the end.
she's having swimming lessons which are helping improve her coordination.

[Beamur]

I'm not expert, but if she has had issues with balance, hopping does require quite a lot of balancing skills to get right, so she might well take a bit longer than her peers to master it.
My DD has no specific issues but her gross motor skills have always lagged behind her fine motor skills, a bit like her Mum really!

[Beamur]

One of the reasons why I've started taking DD to a dance class is to help give her a bit more practice (and fun) doing these types of movements.

[shoots]

CharlotteBronteSaurus - I must take dd swimming again as we've also been advised it will help with her strength and co-ordination. I just felt so sorry for dd as she's starting to notice she's not very physically able compared to her friends!

[shoots]

Thanks Beamur - we did try a ballet class but it was oh so serious and poor dd was scared stiff.. I will try to find a more fun and less pressured one as it would be good for her.

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

shoots, we're looking at doing a Stagecoach type thing with dd1. it's dance, drama and singing, so there's other bits for them to relax and enjoy more is they find the dancing harder.