Physical Therapy Tips for Your Child:
Standing Up from the Floor through ½ Kneel
Did you ever watch how children stand up from the floor? Just like many other gross motor skills, there
is a developmental progression for how children move from sitting on the floor to standing. Young
children typically first move to stand by pulling up on a person or furniture. Next, they learn to stand up
by squatting with both hands on the floor for support. As preschool children get stronger, they stand up
using only their leg muscles. They do this by moving into a tall kneeling position (kneeling with hips
extended and toes pointed), bringing one leg forward into a half-kneeling position, leaning forward, and
standing up without needing to use their arms. To make this more fun and to help children remember
this skill, we have named it the “Tah-Dah!”
tall kneeling
half kneeling
leaning forward
standing
If your child is still learning this skill, the following are recommended practice steps:
1. Teach your child to pick his (or her) hands off the floor to get into a tall kneeling position
(kneeling with hips extended and toes pointed). If hand support is needed, try kneeling in front
of a flat vertical surface such as a wall. Help your child place his hands on the wall while tall
kneeling until he can kneel without hand support.
2. Then help him to shift his weight sideways onto one knee to bring the opposite foot forward
into half-kneeling. Keep hips extended rather than sitting down on the back foot.
3. The third step is to lean forward "nose over toes” of the front foot and stand up. For positive
reinforcement, raise arms and say “Tah-dah!” If a child does not yet have the strength to do this,
intermediate steps may include:
a. Have hands on a vertical surface (wall), lean forward, and push on the wall
b. Offer the child support (such as your bent knee) to push up on (not pull up)
c. Teach the child to place both of his hands on his forward knee and push down on his
knee as he stands up.
4. A child will most likely have a preference for which leg he places forward. This is natural. Once
he is very comfortable moving to stand with his preferred leg forward, try practicing with the
other leg forward.
TURN OVER→→
Ideas for practicing this skill at home include:
 Sit on the floor for a play activity rather than in a chair. Model and cue your child to stand up using
the “tah-dah”.
 During play time, help your child get onto tall knees. Offer him a toy from above (out of reach) and
ask him to stand up to get the toy.
 If your child is sitting on the floor, hand him a playground ball and ask him to stand up holding the
ball in both hands.
 Play games in tall kneeling such as throwing and catching a ball.
 Play similar games in ½ kneeling.
 Instead of sitting with legs crossed ("criss-cross applesauce"), try long sitting with legs straight in
front. Practice turning knees to the side to get into tall kneeling. Many young children are unfamiliar
with this step and need practice.
Idea for Classroom Teachers: “Musical Tah-Dah”
With this game, children have the fun of musical chairs without the chairs! Play some lively
music and have the children walk or dance around in a circle. When you stop the music, the
children all sit down on the floor and sit quietly with their legs in front of them. After several
moments of silence, have the students lift their arms overhead, stand up, and play another
round. Model and encourage standing up through ½ kneeling.
Please call or email if you have any questions or concerns: 717-732-8400 ext. 8549 or [email protected]
Lori Glumac, PT, DSc, PCS, C/NDT
CAIU Physical Therapist