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Parents are being urged to stop their children from sitting in the “W position”, amid fears it could affect their development.

According to the Pediatric Therapy Center, the posture is the go-to stance for kids watching TV, but it could actually have an impact on growing legs, hips, and ankles.

If not addressed by the age of two, it could have a massive impact on a child’s core strength and motor skills, affecting their balance, and ability to jump and run.

Extensive use of this sitting position could leave your child ‘pigeon-toed’, meaning they walk with their toes turned in.

‘For children that may be hypermobile, sitting in the “W” position may overstretch the joints and can weaken the trunk muscles as they are not required to be active.’

How should kids sit?

“W sitting is fine for your child if it’s only for short periods of time. The problem occurs when the child sits like this for the majority of their floor time.

“I would highly recommend all parents observe their children sitting and playing on the floor, if they have a natural tendency to W sit then start working on breaking that habit. I recommend that children should spend time in a variety of postures including cross-legged, legs straight out or in a ring”, says Stephen Thomas – Podiatrist.

I used to always sit like this as a child! People would often ask me how on earth I did it. Maybe that is why my back is so dodgy these days.

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  • My youngest does this, and I had no idea it was an issue until her teacher gave me an info sheet at her parent teacher interview saying it does damage. I figured the body wouldn’t allow a person to feel so comfortable if it was that seriously damaging, she just does it naturally. So flexible.

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  • I’ve heard this before and will keep an eye out if my kids sit still longer than a couple of minutes.

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  • It sounds like there is some truth in it. I always sat like that and my hips and knees are terrible

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  • I heard this one many years ago


    • I am surprised too because I thought this was common knowledge.

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  • I used to sit like this too but It was more so because of pins and needles after sitting crossed legged. I ended up with scoliosis, so it all contributes

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  • I dont think i see my daughter do this but ill definitely be paying attention tomorrow

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  • I am sure that position would be turning the hips too far + other bones and muscles etc. I knpow there is times when children in daycare, kindergarten (pre-school) and perhaps the first year at school sit as a group on the floor while a story is being read to them.

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  • I completely agree with this as I used to sit like this as a child and unknowingly my parents allowed it. Turns out I also have a rare condition where I can hyperextend slot of my joints which caused my knees, hips ankles ect to dislocate and has cause long term damage and childhood arthritis. Many surgery’s later I can walk without a dislocation but life can get difficult for me now as an adult.

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  • Aways handy to know what to look out for.

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  • Always been aware of this as an issue.

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  • I never noticed my kids sitting like this anyway so I guess we’re lucky.

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  • I’ve witnessed this sitting position a lot over the years. I’m conscious that my daughter doesn’t sit like this. No good for the core or joints.

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  • I don’t think I have ever seen my son sit like this before so it’s not an issue for us, but its good to bring awareness to it for other parents

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  • I don’t have any idea about how I used to sit when I was young, but that position looks very comfortable. :-)

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  • My son was never still long enough for this to been an issue.

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