Where is the Core?
The core muscles are found in the abdomen, back, and pelvis. The core is the centre of control for everything else the body does! Therefore, the core needs proper development and exercise. The trunk and the midsection of the body is needed for support and ongoing positioning, so the stronger the core muscles are, the less likely a lower back injury will develop.
What is Core Strength?
Core strength is the development of the muscles that stabilize, align, and move the trunk and midsection of the body. Poor core strength can cause poor posture which can also affect attention, focus and gross & fine motor skills. Building strong core strength is like building a strong foundation for the child.
Why do more & more Children have weak Cores?
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This is due to a number of reasons including:
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An increase in children with developmental delays like autism, ADHD, and sensory processing.
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Living in a day and age where classrooms focus less on physical activities due to more intense academic demands.
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Children spending hours upon hours with video games, television and their mobiles.
Signs of Weak Core Muscles in Children
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Slumping, with shoulders rolled forward, while standing or sitting in a chair.
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Leaning their head on one hand, or with rounded back, while writing or reading.
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Leaning on furniture or other people while standing.
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Avoiding gross motor games and sporting activities, or having difficulty with endurance for motor tasks.
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Fidgeting in their seat and having difficulty sitting still, concentrating and paying attention.
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Difficulty with fine motor control and accuracy with tasks such as handwriting and cutting with scissors.
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Difficulty with mobility skills such as: rolling, crawling, climbing and walking.
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Difficulty changing from one position to another (from lying down to sitting, from sitting to standing, from kneeling to standing).
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Difficulty with balance challenges (balance beam, jumping, stairs).
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Difficulty with maintaining upright posture when sitting unsupported (sitting on the floor).
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Difficulty with stabilizing the body during dressing and self-care tasks such as: putting on pants/shoes/socks.
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Frequently sitting in a w-sitting position during play.
Tips for Activating Core Muscles
Children sometimes struggle to know how to "activate" their core for stability during gross motor activities.
Help children "find" the right muscles to activate by saying something like this: "You know how you make your tummy hard when you think you are going to get punched in the tummy - those are the muscles that need to be working while we do this exercise/activity". Call this the "tummy punch trick"! Once they have "discovered" these muscles, keep reminding them of this trick during the exercise/activity!
Breath holding allows children to compensate and not use the crucial core muscles that these exercises target. Always make sure that the children are breathing normally during these exercises!
