Let’s swing – use a bar to practise swinging legs in and out

What you need 

• A climbing frame or bar (low enough that your toddler can reach the floor when they hold it) 

What to do 

• Encourage your toddler to hold onto the bar and gently swing their legs.  
• Comment as they begin to swing backwards and forwards – you could count their swings and see if they can do more each time.  

Good to know 

Holding a bar is great for developing grip strength, which is important for many fine motor skills including writing. Your toddler might only be able to hold on for a little while at first, but as they play more, they will get stronger. Swinging on a bar might be easier than coordinating their movements on a swing so is a good way to practise this skill.