How do you teach a toddler to jump?

[TheSkiingGardener]

DS is 14 months and adores trampolines. But since he can't jump he gets quite frustrated on his own on one, I have to do the jumpy bit for him.

I spent 10 minutes today trying to teach him basic jumping on the ground but this just resulted in lots of giggling and him bending his legs then standing up straight, overbalancing and falling on his bottom. Any tips anyone?

14 months is way to young to be able to jump. Most children can't jump until they are 2. You can't teach it he' just do it when he's ready

another for Ruby.

Jumping 2 feet off the ground happens about 3/4 not all children can do it The skill of jumping is hard.

OK, quite a split vote on whether it's possible or not. So I shall carry on encouraging him, jumping about in front of him and seeing what he can do. If it works and I teach him to jump I shall come back and tell you all. If it doesn't work I shall slope off and pretend I forgot about the thread.

I think that's the grown up thing to do.

Jeez my dd2 couldnt walk at 14 months! She's 3 now and has only just mastered jumping whilst holdng on.

They're all different Vera aren't they. Part of their charm.

It's a 2 year old skill. You can't teach him; you have to wait for him to do it himself. Enjoy the funny spectacle of him trying while you wait.

DD's 22 mo and has just started trying to jump in earnest. Its hilarious watching her. For the last few months, she has been able to rise up onto tiptoe and the motion of doing that quickly has created enough of a bounce for her to enjoy her trampoline (also a handled one) without me having to push it up & down. If we're somewhere with a bouncy castle, DD finds walking & rising up on her toes hilarious enough without needing to jump &, if I really want to make her giggle, I ask an older child to go & bounce near her so that she gets flung all over the place. If doing this, pick your child wisely as you don't want them to end up out of control & land on your DC as that tends to end the giggling very quickly!

As others have said, jumping is a neurological developmental thing-bugger all you can do about "helping" them tbh...it is also recognised as being a pretty complex motor skill and many many children dont master it until aged 4 or even older. Unfortunately, a bit like walking/talking and many many other developmental milestones, jumping is dependent on neurone messaging so no amount of practice/demonstration will have any effect...early jumping also doesn not mean a guaranteed entry into Oxbridge...believe it or not a parent once told me that her DC showed huge academic potential because he jumped aged 18 months...

DS now thinks mummy is the funniest thing ever. I say "Shall we jump" now and he tries so hard. No clear air yet though.

I'm interested by the neurological messaging idea though. I expected it to be a muscle co-ordination issue. Can anyone point me to evidence of the neuron messaging idea.

Murtette that's what DS loves too. He sits on the playground trampoline in the local park while the big kids jump around him. I generally sit on the edge right next to him just in case!

@ Oddgirl and hilarious parent.

I wrote about toddlers and jumping once, but can't for the life of me remember where I got all my info (including about neurology). Try googling Lise Eliot, as she's v good on children and neurological development.

Lise Elliott 'What's Going on in There?' is an excellent and very readable book on infants' and young children's neurological development.

LIFT OFF!

Briefly, once and I don't know who was more surprised, me or him. He then tried again and did semi-leapy-stridy things across the room until he fell over. This is fun! It may be a fluke but it may be going somewhere!

Excellent book recommendation, thank you MathAnxiety. I'm halfway through a masters in psychotherapy and neurobiological development is coming up (on the course, not just for me) so that sounds extremely useful.

It sounds like he's getting it and you're both having fun into the bargain!

My 2 year old has been jumping with DH from about 12 months old (aided) usually on our bed! They sing "Im a kangaroo, I like bouncing, Im a kangaroo" as he holds her hands and she bounces, both feet off the bed. Its their 'thing' and really sweet to watch. We are trying to make the connection now by singing the song whilst she is not holding hands or is on firm ground and have had some success.. We also do the Peppa Pig, jumping in muddy puddles thing (using the hosepipe to make puddles when it doesn't rain)

Ah, the attention devoted to first children...

We are just being referred back to physio/OT as my 2.9 year old DS can't jump ( or run, but thats another post!) Our HV& Paed have seemed completely relaxed about it until now so i'd say 14 months is well within the normal limits :)

dd has just learned, she's 2.7.

It is vital that he only ever sees you jumping.
Walking, running, skipping, hopping etc will just confuse him, so make sure you jump everywhere you go.
Otherwise he will be a bottom-bouncing adult.

Bubbaluv.

That would certainly help shift the excess stones pounds I'm carrying. Am I allowed a pogo stick?

Oh they are sooooo sweet when they can't jump. It was one of my most favourite things watching ds2 bending his knees, getting ready...and...not getting off the ground.