A balancing act

Achieving balance in your life and that of your family is of paramount importance...

In today's world, the word "balance" has become a buzz word. Unlike in the past when it merely meant what dictionaries proclaimed it to mean, busy mothers and fathers seek "better balance" between work and family, family and friends, time to spend with each other and alone time when you could simply relax and rejuvenate.

In fact, many parents say with conviction that life as it is today, can feel like one big balancing act.

But reverting to its original meaning, helping your child achieve good balance - literally - is equally vital. Balance is the stronghold contributing to every skill we have and because children today are bending over laptop computers and video games and shouldering heavy backpacks to school, their balance is more challenged than ever.

Continuously hunching over or carrying extra weight can affect posture and balance which could lead to less success in sports, problems in the way the child carries himself and walks which in turn contribute to social problems when he or she is teased in school about his "funny walk" or "slouch."

Why has this become an issue today? M&M talked with a few experts who confirm that bad posture causes most of the problems.

With more kids becoming housebound and indulging in sedentary activities such as working on computers, focusing more on bookwork and studies in an increasingly competitive environment, playing video games and watching DVDs, the problem is compounded.

Games like Hop Scotch and "Hop and Catch" promote balance but sadly these games seem to be dying out of a child's itinerary today except perhaps in the more rural areas of Sri Lanka where children have more garden space in which to play.

City bound and apartment living children have the option of attending kid-level classes in balance building activities which include Yoga and Karate which are gaining immensely in popularity today. But there are also simple exercises families can do at home to boost stability.

Why this focus on balance? Is it all that important? Why practise something so basic? More and more researchers are connecting balance to mental, not just physical functioning.

When children stabilize themselves from an unstable post, they learn how to focus faster and more efficiently. In fact, children with learning problems who often have less than optimal balance, can particularly benefit from balance training.

Although babies develop differently and their stages of development do not fit in to perfect compartments, you could expect him to achieve head control when he is around 2 months. He will probably start sitting up when he is between 6 to 7 months, crawling when he is 8 to 10 months and standing with support when he is around 9 to 10 months.

Baby might stand independently any time between 9 to 16 months and start walking around this same time. He could run smoothly at 21 to 30 months, hop on one foot when he is 4 to 5 years and start skipping when he is between 5 and 6 years. Remember, these are generalised and your baby's development might vary dramatically, making him a slow or early starter, and this is generally nothing to worry about.

When your baby is between 6 months to 1 year and has begun to sit up, let her grab the fingers of both your hands and pull herself in to a sitting position. Once she is seated, slowly move your hands towards her, just enough so that she has to rely on her own sense of balance.

When your child is between 1 to 3 years you could sit down in a chair and have your child stand in front of you with his arms extended out from his sides. Reach your hands underneath his arms but don't support his weight. Just have them ready so you can catch him if he loses his balance. Ask him to step up on to the tops of your shoes. Make a game of how long he can balance himself on your feet.

You could both achieve better balance when you stand together with your feet apart, hands on hips. Stand on your left leg, bending the right leg slightly behind you like a stork. Hold this pose for two seconds, then slowly extend your right leg straight out and slightly in front of you without touching the ground. Hold for two seconds and repeat the exercise standing on the right leg.

Once this begins to feel easy, you could try extending your arms out in front of you or overhead. Playing "Simon Says" with your child can make this exercise even more fun.

Because balance can be bolstered from infancy, you should ask your doctor to direct you to the right place where you could be guided on exercises for children. If your child is very young - say under a year - remember to place soft pillows in and around the exercise area.

An added plus point is that it is never too late to enhance your own sense of equilibrium. Learning balance is an ongoing practice and practising together can give your child a sense of mutual support while developing your own sense of balance in many ways.

By courtesy Mum and Me