What's Wrong with "W" Sitting?

W--sitting is a position of sitting on the floor – the child sits on their bottom with their knees bent and rotated on the floor behind them in the shape of a W. Many children W-sit and move in and out of this position during play.  All children should be discouraged for sitting in this position.  When W-sitting becomes the primary way of sitting, it can hinder development.  When playing in other postures, such as tailor sit (legs crisscrossed), long sit (legs straight out in front), or side sit (legs bent at the knees with both knees facing either left or right), children develop the trunk control and trunk rotation that is necessary for crossing midline (reaching across the body) and for separation of the two sides of the body (bilateral coordination).  These skills are needed for a child to develop refined motor skills and hand dominance.

Read More