My dh and mother-inlaw think that we should prevent my dd from doing somersaults. She is 22 months and loves to do them on the carpet. Mind you, she can't always execute them fully but she tries a couple times a day. It doesn't seem to me that it would really hurt her. I mean, haven't kids done this since the beginning of time? I ask because they are so adamant about it that they are really getting to be annoying. Anyone with experience in this?

By Christylee on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 04:26 pm:

Brendan is almost three and he loves to do somersaults still... What is their reasoning behind her not doing them? I think it's fine as long as they don't hurt themselves by bumping into things.

christy

By Moeanne on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 04:29 pm:

They believe she will break her neck. She does them in the middle of the floor, so there are no objects for her land on or bump into.

By Bellajoe on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 05:10 pm:

When i used to take my kids to the YMCA for a gym/swim class, they taught us how to show our kids to do somersaults. It was a preventative thing, if a kid is falling on to his or her head, thwy showed us to tuck their heads to prevent them from getting hurt. And that they would learn to do it automatically by themselves. They did this at the class for babies that were 6 months old! They would have us bend the baby over our arm (we were kneeling of course) and to tuck their heads under, chin to chest. They did this in every class from 6 months to at least 3 years old. Now when my kids do somersaults they tuck their chin to their chest and complete the somersault.

Maybe just make sure she is tucking her chin and then somersaulting. If she is doing a head stand and then plopping over, that is probably what is making your dh and mother in law nervous?

I don't know if this made any sense, i hope it does! Good luck!

By Mrse on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 05:16 pm:

I think they are most likley worried that she will hurt her neck when she does the somersault. Yes kids have been doing them since the beginning of time. I think I would be thinking along your lines as well, we as parents can not make a huge deal out of everything the little ones do, yes if their is obvious danger then stop the activity. I would kind of think what is going to be next? going down the slide at the park? Does dh really feel this way? or is he just going along with his mom? I think it is not a huge deal, but you are kind of in a corner, if you got two against one. Maybe you could let her do them only when you or dh is thier so you can spot her when she does them.

By Kay on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 05:49 pm:

Just remember, this is probably the generation that also told us that if we crossed our eyes they'd freeze that way.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 06:34 pm:

Good grief! I say let her do them. I loved doing somersaults as a kid and my sisters and I did them all the time!

By Marcia on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 09:10 pm:

If they don't do them properly, which most kids don't, they can hurt their necks.

By Bobbie on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 09:25 pm:

She is going to do them whether they like it or not that is just it. What are you going to do punish her from having fun?? I mean that is what it boils down to. She isn't going to just stop doing them you will have to prevent her from doing them. Does that seem fair. She could hurt herself falling out of bed too is that a concern of theirs too??