Re: RC: Training a uncoordinated 6year old on downhills

[Susan Willis <smw@sos.net>]

Vicky -

Hill work just takes time.....but as for teaching
him where his feet are here's a few simple
exercises for the yard:

Trot overs - place poles (4-5" in diameter, 6-8'
long) on the ground for him to trot over....adjust
the spacing to his stride so that if he is
travelling them correctly he lands between the
poles and not on them.

Walkover using a 'HUB'......arrange your poles on
a raised base radiating outward like the spokes of
a wheel......walk him around it in a spiral so
that he has to think about where he's placing
those feet....

Tires - arrange a half dozen rimless tires in a
staggered pattern that he has to walk
through...these require him to lift his foot
higher and again think about placing it IN the
tire, not ON it.....

Back to the hill work, just keep doing what you're
doing and being consistent. Let him take the hill
at his own pace, support him, encourage him, keep
your own balance as quiet as possible to allow him
to develop his balance. It will come with
time....he's more like a gangly teenager at this
age and still learning how to carry himself!

Susan