Babies are constantly learning to do new things. As such, it’s reasonable to be curious about when do kids learn to jump.
Seeing your little angel uncover major milestones is a joyous memory you will forever be fond of.
Your child learning how to walk is one of the feats that was remarkably impressive.
Even better, it was a pathway to unraveling more advanced gross motor skills such as running, throwing, lifting, sitting up, kicking, and climbing.
This post will shed insights on jumping, a gross motor development feat that’s equally noteworthy and is a vital part of your toddler development.
When Do Kids Learn To Jump?
Typically, kids learn to jump by the age of three. However, some may develop this skill around the second year mark or a little later after turning three.
Jumping is a developmental milestone kids discover by themselves. It primarily begins with a one-foot jump and progressively gets both feet off the ground.
After learning how to walk, they begin testing out their balance. Subsequently, kids will try jumping from low structures to the ground.
Eventually, they will try jumping from a standing position.
These skills require bilateral coordination, balance, and strength with the awareness of body and motor planning.
As you can imagine, this can be an overwhelming feat for your little one to master.
Not to mention, it takes considerable muscle power for your baby to get into the air and both agility and balance to land on their feet.
Jumping is essential in developing leg strength and balance.
Ultimately, it’s a component for more complex movements, specialized skills, and in general, physical activity.
Note that toddlers who fail to hit the recommended milestones such as jumping often inhibit lower levels of physical fitness as they come of age.
As such, we parents must encourage babies to learn such essential motor skills.
Learn more from a related post: When Do Kids Learn Colors
1. Why Jumping is Important For Kids
Jumping is a simple, fun, and cost-effective exercise with a myriad of benefits.
As a starting point, jumping and fitness complement each other. The following are the benefits of jumping:
- Kids can learn body control. That is, they learn to control the movement of their body.
- Jumping allows kids to have physical flexibility and better posture.
- Muscle and bone strength. Jumping entails all major muscles and bones of the body. As a result, the concurrent impact and flex of keeping their bodies going up and landing strengthens their muscles and bones.
- Jumping, being a cardiovascular exercise, makes your little one’s heart healthier.
- Maintaining proper weight and fitness- Jumping enhances your baby’s metabolic rate. Concurrently they can process nutrients faster and more efficiently. Also, especially for overweight kids, jumping is ideal for losing weight and acquiring a lean body.
- Enhanced coordination- When jumping, a kid’s brain and body work in sequence to maintain good coordination and balance. Also, kids will have better motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
It’s almost impractical to elucidate all the reasons your baby should learn how to jump.
So instead, we have given insights on just the top benefits to help you promote this vital skill.
Also read: When Do Babies Learn Their Names
2. Signs Your Kid is Having Trouble Learning How to Jump
The most obvious sign is your baby turning three, and they aren’t showing any interest in leaving the ground with two feet.
Kids are different. However, if they are delaying, or worse, failing to uncover such milestones, it could be a sign that they have a developmental delay at the recommended age.
As such, you can consult a pediatrician.
Other signs your toddler is having problems learning how to jump:
- Fails to get off the floor when they try to jump.
- They are scared of jumping off steps.
- They fall over when they try to jump.
3. Ways to Encourage Jumping
You can always help your child to master this motor skill. At the same time, it would be best if you didn’t rush them since the process occurs in a stepwise manner.
The appropriate action to help promote jumping is to give your little one the time, space, and opportunity to move.
As a starting point, provide a safe soft surface such as grass, padded mats, and carpet once they start showing signs.
Then, progressively allow them to practice on hardwoods. Also, it’s vital to let kids jump barefoot to get used to the various and unique textures of the ground.
Here are other practical and effective tips to promote jumping for kids:
- In most cases, babies tend to observe and learn from other children. Therefore, you can use other kids as examples to help your little one discover this milestone.
- Help make their limbs more robust by getting them to walk on their toes or squatting.
- Role-play animal movements such as frog jumps and kangaroo jumps.
- Assist them in jumping by holding two hands and lifting them as they squat.
- Jump alongside them.
When do kids learn to jump is a top concern for many parents.
By the time your little angel turns three, they should have uncovered this vital motor developmental milestone.
Of course, you can always encourage them to jump but don’t rush the process.
Also, contact your pediatrician if you notice your kid is having difficulties discovering this feat, have concerns about the way they jump, or worse, they aren’t jumping by 2.5-3 years of age.
Iesha is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children. She’s an active parent who enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family. Her mission is to share practical and realistic parenting advice to help the parenting community becoming stronger.
