My child’s teacher told me I should discourage my daughter from sitting in a “W” position. Why?
From a speech perspective, a W sitting position does not allow for good respiration, phonation, and articulation. A child needs a strong and stable trunk to support the muscles of the jaw, lips, and tongue.
From a physical and occupational therapist’s point of view, excessive W sitting during the growing years can lead to future orthopedic problems (e.g., hip dislocation and muscle tightness in the hamstrings, internal rotators, and heel cords). In this position, a child is planted in place or “fixed” through the trunk. The trunk can’t rotate, and the child can’t use lateral weight shift, which affects overall balance.
W sitting discourages crossing over midline because a child is fixed playing with toys right in front of him or her. A child who sits in this fashion may have difficulty determining hand preference because he or she may do everything unilaterally in this fixed position.
Please encourage your child to sit in a “criss-cross applesauce” position (also known as a Tailor Sit, as seen below) while seated on the floor.
