You may have been told by your therapist or other health professional that this "w" sitting thing is not good for your child.  So what is the big deal about it?! Here are a few reasons why it is less than ideal when performed habitually.

1. It's cheating: Children who "W" sit aren't challenging themselves to sit upright and so they aren't learning how to balance and develop postural control above the pelvis which is what is meant to be you base of support in sitting and what will be as the child moves to school age and has to sit in a chair for most of the day.
2. Weakness: It contributes to decreased trunk muscle strength since these muscles don't have to work as hard to sit this way.
3. Tightness: Constantly "W" sitting puts certain muscles at risk for becoming tight while over lengthening opposing muscles creating a muscle imbalance that can limit the movement and strength required for other activities such as crawling, walking, running or jumping with good alignment.
4. Bad Posture: Habitual "W" sitting can lead to altered standing posture and can also cause kids to become "knock kneed" and "pigeon toed" when they walk due to the internal rotation force that is placed at the hips in this position. Children who "W" sit often also have a difficult time maintaining a neutral posture when sitting in other positions because the hamstrings or other muscles may become tight and pull on the pelvis.   

 What can you do to STOP the "W"?

Come up with a phrase and ask your child to "fix your legs" or "sit criss cross" every time you see him or her in the "W" sitting position. The best case scenario is to be able to prevent the habit before it starts, however, if you find you are reminding your child every 5 seconds to sit correctly, then maybe consider having your child sit in a appropriate sized chair at a table top for play instead of on the floor. Educating other adults who interact with your child throughout the day is also important as consistency is the key to break the habit.  So how should your child sit on the floor? We recommend any combination of the following positions: criss cross sitting, ring sitting (both legs in front but not crossed over each other), or side sitting (both legs bent to either side of the body).  We realize that there are some children whose impairments prevent them from sitting any other way than in the "W" position and it may be the only way for them to be functional in sitting.  If you have questions regarding you child's sitting postures, talk with your therapist or let us know if we can help!