Is this normal playground behavior? Update on post 41

[Violet2]

DD was just given the referral for physical therapy by the neurologist (no diagnosis yet) and I'm trying to sort out if some of the other stuff she does is in the range of normal or part of the problem.

So...How does this level of activity compare to your 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 yo?

When we take DD to the park, she just stands there and doesn't really play unless we take her by the hand and guide her. We have to show her how to climb etc...

She won't just go on her own and is often unsure of herself physically.

My perception is that most kids just take off, eager to explore and climb.

DD does like to run, jump and ride her tricycle, but we are often frustrated as her parents at the playground. We go to age appropriate parks so it's not like the equipment is too big.

So what do your kids do? How much help do you need to give them? This will help me figure out if it bears mentioning to the PT.

Which it probably does since she has a major problem with stairs and there's a lot of climbing in parks. Huh. The lightbulb goes on.

Well, give me a comparison anyway, it will be helpful since DD is an only and I don't know what's normal unless I see her peers in action, kwim?

Thanks
V

[Melly24]

DD sees the playground as we approcah and runs for it. When she was littler she would be more hesitant if their were bigger kids on there, but now she will give anything a go. She's a big time climber though (has had her arm in plaster twice now).

Maybe its the size of the playground and the surroundings? Could she be overwhelmed by where to begin or what to start with? How does she go on smaller backyard or indoor type play equipment? (if you have access to any..)

[Violet2]

She's fine on the small stuff--little tyke type slide.

But no, not running off to the playground. She stands there and looks at us like 'now what?'

V

[donutmolly]

I don't know -- it could be temperament, or just the age.... My DD's have both gone through phases where they took awhile to warm up to the playground. In particular, DD2 (who is 2.5yo), often will do nothing but swing -- unless we really prompt her to go and climb and try the slide, etc. She will do it right away if her good friend of the same age is doing it, but not if some random kids are playing. She's certainly capable of climbing and doing all the playground stuff, but isn't always interested.

Does she have a familiar friend that might "show her the way" sort of? Does she warm up if you play on the equipment?

[Violet2]

She will only play if we are there every step of the way cheering her on, spotting her etc...

I am going to ask some friends to go next time to see how she does with some inspiration.

V

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All my daycare kids are that age.

E was very late to walk. Even at two years, her leg muscles weren't strong enough for her to walk up the tiny stairs in front of my house. She had a hard time getting in and out of doors without holding on to the door jamb. Eventually she started riding our RODY horse, and within the year, she was climbing all the equipment like everybody else.

Z has been climbing any ladder, slide or steps since nine months. Before she could walk. She's a terror on the playground. She can do anything, even if it's impossible... she can do it.

The twins will jump in and are able to climb almost all of the equipment, but they have trouble with the ladders.

With the exception of E, all the kids could get up and down from the tall stools at my kitchen counter without help by 24 months. They could climb the sides of our Step 2 climber before age two. At the park, they'd have no problem going all over the playground, but some might be shy if they didn't have friends to go on with. For some kids, it's just not all that attractive, and they can't find anything fun about it.

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Originally Posted by Violet2

She's fine on the small stuff--little tyke type slide.

But no, not running off to the playground. She stands there and looks at us like 'now what?'

V

It's probably like you going to the go cart track all by yourself. It's not so much fun when you don't have a friend to race.

[MamieCole]

It could very well be her nature. Is she introverted in other situations? She might just have no interest or is slow to warm.

DS1 is almost 4 and still has very little interest in "typical playground behavior." It's always been his nature. He is a total introvert and much prefers adults or older kids to children his age or younger. He's never, not once, ran onto the play structure and just started playing.

It takes him a good 35-45 minutes of observation before he decides if he wants to participate on any of the structures. In the meantime, he will either sit near me and people watch or wander in my vicinity while he takes it all in. He always chooses solitary activities and does his best to avoid other kids. He loves to climb and run down hills, dig in the dirt, swing, hunt for bugs and the like. We go to the park about once a week, and the only times he chooses to climb/slide, etc is when we pretty much are the only people there. If we happen to be there when it is super crowded, he pretty much just asks to go home. My boy is not a fan of the chaos that comes with a crowded park. And don't even *think* of asking him if he wants to play in the water features. Not his cup of tea.

At home or at other people's houses, he loves climbing and sliding in the backyard on play structures, so I know his gross motor skills are just fine. It's just that public parks are not the place he chooses to practice them.

He is very much his mother's son, and I don't try to force anything. It's ok if his friends are running around wildly while he sits calmly building a sandcastle. He has just as much fun, it is just that his definition of "fun" isn't the same as most kids his age.

[Punchy Kaby]

When our DS was younger ( under 3) we had to be there right next to him in all activities, show him what to do, play along side of him. Is your dd like you to play right alongside with other activities? I kind of agree that a playground is more fun if you have someone to goof off with.

You mentioned she has challenges with your stairs too, could it be a vision or depth perception issue?

[jrose_lee]

It's hard for others to know without seeing your dd but I thought I'd throw this in for consideration.
http://www.hsperson.com/pages/child.htm

I think there is even a little quiz. Ds1 is a highly sensative child. He fits it to a T. He plays at the park more as he gets older, but he is a big time "watcher". I don't know if your dd has a problem and doesn't feel she wants to climb, or maybe she just wants to watch the other kids. Check out the link. There is a book too. My ds will come to the park and just end up watching the other kids play more than half the time. There isn't anything wrong with him physically- but he is very cautious about his body and just not as physical as the other kids.

[serenbat]

DD was just given the referral for physical therapy by the neurologist (no diagnosis yet) and I'm trying to sort out if some of the other stuff she does is in the range of normal or part of the problem.

your post comes across as a bit odd??

just because I child doesn't run to the playground or go on things there it seems a big leap to say she needs physical therapy, is this related?

you do say other "stuff" bit it is really hard to gage and put it in some prospective

mine have always been happy to go to the playground, uncertain on new items or at a new playground the first time but never like you are saying

does this "reaction" happen in other settings? meeting other people, going other places? that would tend to me nature, not physical


physically mine have been able to play at the playground at this age

is your question about physical ability or about reaction?

[Violet2]

Originally Posted by serenbat

your post comes across as a bit odd??

just because I child doesn't run to the playground or go on things there it seems a big leap to say she needs physical therapy, is this related?

you do say other "stuff" bit it is really hard to gage and put it in some prospective

mine have always been happy to go to the playground, uncertain on new items or at a new playground the first time but never like you are saying

does this "reaction" happen in other settings? meeting other people, going other places? that would tend to me nature, not physical


physically mine have been able to play at the playground at this age

is your question about physical ability or about reaction?

The other stuff I'm trying gauge is her playground behavior. I go on to explain later in the OP that she has major issues with stairs, so there is an ongoing issue that we have been working on since May with the neurologist. I am trying to see if any dots connect or not.

Sorry if that was not clear.

Question is about physical ability.

V

[Violet2]

Originally Posted by jrose_lee

It's hard for others to know without seeing your dd but I thought I'd throw this in for consideration.
http://www.hsperson.com/pages/child.htm

I think there is even a little quiz. Ds1 is a highly sensative child. He fits it to a T. He plays at the park more as he gets older, but he is a big time "watcher". I don't know if your dd has a problem and doesn't feel she wants to climb, or maybe she just wants to watch the other kids. Check out the link. There is a book too. My ds will come to the park and just end up watching the other kids play more than half the time. There isn't anything wrong with him physically- but he is very cautious about his body and just not as physical as the other kids.

It doesn't fit her exactly, but I do find her to be sensitive, just not in such a way to 'pass' the quiz. I have often thought about SPD, although she's generally pretty easy going, yet...sensitive at the same time.

There's a definite physical problem. I did mention it in the OP but it must be getting lost.

She is unable to bear weight at all on her left leg going up stairs. So this makes sense that climbing a ladder or jungle gym may make playground prohibitive for her unless we are there spotting her.

V

[mamazee]

Your dd can pedal a tricycle at 2? If so she's way ahead of where my older dd physically was at that age. She could not manage the pedaling action until she was like 4, at all.

My guess is that it's temperament and personality rather than a physical issue. She might just be shy to get involved when she sees other kids playing on the equipment. Have you ever taken her to the park when no one else has been there?

[serenbat]

DD does like to run, jump and ride her tricycle

so she can do things- but she is not going on things at the playground- I'm sorry but I don't see this as a physical issue at all

I would love to know what the dr thinks and how doing physical therapy over comes an emotional issue, sound far more like a fear and nothing physical, IMO

[bri276]

DD has been in PT for a long time and it took almost forever before she'd just tackle a playground (and is still slower than the other kids for physical reasons- but she really enjoys it now).

One thing that helped her is actually going when there aren't any kids around. Tough during the summer!! She was fascinated/intimidated by the other kids and also afraid of losing her balance. But you know, we'd just jump in and put her at the top of the slide and sit her on the swings and just do whatever we had to do assistance-wise. Some kids do need more guidance and that's what parents are there for The more you do it, the more comfortable she'll become and eventually you will have a kid who is tiring you out instead of the other way around!

[serenbat]

you had not mentioned about her foot prior to my posting

how does she jump if she doesn't bear weight on her foot?

[Violet2]

Originally Posted by mamazee

Your dd can pedal a tricycle at 2? If so she's way ahead of where my older dd physically was at that age. She could not manage the pedaling action until she was like 4, at all.

My guess is that it's temperament and personality rather than a physical issue. She might just be shy to get involved when she sees other kids playing on the equipment. Have you ever taken her to the park when no one else has been there?

I didn't say she could steer though. Just pedal. The 21mo across the street, steers and pedals. And remember she's closer to 3 than 2.

She's not shy. She loves other kids and will find someone to play with but I have to be there to help her navigate the equipment. And we have been alone on a playground too.

V

[Violet2]

Originally Posted by serenbat

you had not mentioned about her foot prior to my posting

how does she jump if she doesn't bear weight on her foot?

I'm sorry but I think you are missing things in my posts. She doesn't bear weight going up stairs.

She has had ongoing problems with falls--I have not mentioned this as of yet. In the past, she would fall when she jumped or ran. That seems to have improved in that it still happens, but not as often.

Let's make this post more about how other kids are responding to playgrounds so I have some idea what the spectrum is as I navigate DD's challenges. Okay? Thanks.

V

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by Violet2

I didn't say she could steer though. Just pedal. The 21mo across the street, steers and pedals. And remember she's closer to 3 than 2.

She's not shy. She loves other kids and will find someone to play with but I have to be there to help her navigate the equipment. And we have been alone on a playground too.

V

Pedaling is a pretty difficult physical thing to do. My dd couldn't do that -the pedaling action - at all until she was 4, and I don't think a young four either, so much older than your child. She hadn't even reached the point of being in a position to steer at your child's age. Another child in my neighborhood was riding a 2-wheel-bicycle, pedaling, and steering at 3. That wasn't relevant to my child because normal includes development at different rates. Your child seems physically within the realm of normal from what I've read here anyway.