Movement patterns can be challenging at the best of times but understanding how to modify things to suit your child best will have a significant impact on their growth and development. 

Your child will be able to complete movements they are capable of achieving and you can have peace of mind that they are doing them safely. 

Modifications to movement patterns can be made either by progressing or regressing the movement:

• progression involves making the movement more difficult to match a child's increasing ability
• regression involves making the movement easier to match a child's reduced ability.

Like any child, your child is unique in their personality, their interests and their capabilities. Allowing your child some creative freedom to modify the movement based on their capabilities and skill level will allow for more enjoyment, engagement and progression. 

Example: Push Up

A regular push-up may be on the toes and chest to the ground, but not everyone is capable of this movement straight away. A regression of a push-up can be any of the following: 

• dropping to the knees to add less weight to the shoulders and chest
• reducing the range of motion by not dropping the chest down so far
• using the couch or a wall to complete push-ups to shift some of the weight to the lower body.

See the CHANGE IT Principle for more information on how to modify sports to encourage more involvement and active play for your child.