How to do it
You need: A scooter board, A smooth, flat, clear floor.
Use a scooter board on a smooth, flat floor with plenty of clear space and nothing to bump into. Check that your child's fingers, hair and clothing are kept well away from the wheels.
- Help your child lie on their tummy on the board with the chest and hips supported and the head up.
- Show them how to reach forwards and pull along the floor with both hands, a bit like swimming.
- Set a target to pull towards, such as a cushion or a parent a few metres away.
- Have them pull to the target, then turn the board around and come back.
- Add gentle games such as collecting soft toys along the way.
Form cues
- The head and chest stay lifted so your child can see where they are going.
- Both arms take turns pulling with long, smooth reaches.
- Fingers stay flat on the floor and well clear of the wheels.
Common mistakes
- Using the board on carpet, on a slope, or near stairs, doorways or hard furniture.
- Sitting or standing on the board rather than lying on the tummy.
- Long sessions that leave your child's neck and shoulders aching - keep each go short.
Safety: Stop and message your child's physio if your child has increasing pain, a limp that does not settle, or is much more tired or unsettled than usual.