Rolling is one of the ‘whole body’ or ‘big body’ movements that most babies initially experience in close contact with their carers and then practise independently throughout their first year. The visual simplicity of rolling belies the real impact it has on developing overall muscular strength, joint stability, balance, agility and co-ordination.
Ideally, rolling should remain a vital part of children’s movement ‘vocabulary’ long after its primary function as preparation for crawling has declined. As adults, we should also recognise how we can benefit from revisiting this essential early skill.
Development
Usually in the first few months, babies lie on their carers’ tummies and roll side to side. Some newborns will naturally roll onto one side to sleep when placed on their backs, and babies will roll their heads each way.
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