Jump into the air – tools to help your toddler prepare

Toddlers jump for many reasons, and they’ll feel lots of different emotions when doing it. These can vary from day to day, with some jumps being full of confidence and others a little more cautious. Here are some suggestions for helping your toddler just go for it! 

Turning jumping into a game can add excitement and help your toddler prepare mentally for their upcoming jump. 

Saying, “Ready, steady, go,” helps them know what is expected and can give them the confidence to jump off their step or surface. 

Bending their knees into a slight squat might help your toddler before taking the big leap.  

Squatting a little before jumping helps us jump forward and upwards. Although the need to go upwards isn’t as much of a necessity when jumping from a step, practising is always beneficial.  

Squatting also helps build and strengthen leg muscles, which will help them when they jump. 

There might be times when your toddler just needs a little bit of time to think about how to tackle their jump. 

They might be a little higher up, or unsure about the surface they are landing on – this is especially true when they jump outside.  

Offering time to think helps your toddler assess their environment. They might opt out, and this is totally ok too. They are showing you they understand something about risk. 

Your toddler is bound to fall from time to time and when they take a tumble, your reaction is one of the most important parts of their recovery.  

You can help manage their emotions by trying not to respond emotively. Your toddler will look at you to see your reaction. If you look scared, they will think there is something wrong.  

Responding to your toddler’s response, and not the fall, will help them to decide how they feel about it.  

Not all jumps look like jumps. Sometimes a jump may be more of a step down, and this is still an achievement. 

Even when your toddler steps down as a jump, be sure to let them know they did a great job.  

Your toddler might be really excited about jumping. No matter how confident they seem, being there to reassure them will help keep this excitement alive. 

Can you see their little bodies jiggle? Are they smiling and perhaps giggling? This is such an exciting moment for them. Standing close by, or in front of them, helps build their confidence and is also very handy if the jump doesn’t quite go to plan.