Physical Therapy Tips for Your Child:

Standing Up from the Floor through ½ Kneel

Did you ever watch how children stand up from the floor? Just like many other gross motor skills, there is a developmental progression for how children move from sitting on the floor to standing. Young children typically first move to stand by pulling up on a person or furniture. Next, they learn to stand up by squatting with both hands on the floor for support.As preschool children get stronger, they stand up using only their leg muscles. They do this by moving into a tall kneeling position (kneeling with hips extended and toes pointed), bringing one leg forward into a half-kneeling position, leaning forward, and standing up without needing to use their arms. To make this more fun and to help children remember this skill, we have named it the “Tah-Dah!”

tall kneeling half kneeling leaning forward standing

If your child is still learning this skill, the following are recommended practice steps:

  1. Teach your child to pick his (or her) hands off the floor to get into a tall kneeling position (kneeling with hips extended and toes pointed). If hand support is needed, try kneeling in front of a flat vertical surface such as a wall. Help your child place his hands on the wall while tall kneeling until he can kneel without hand support.
  2. Then help him to shift his weight sideways onto one knee to bring the opposite foot forward into half-kneeling. Keep hips extended rather than sitting down on the back foot.
  3. The third step is to lean forward "nose over toes” of the front foot and stand up. For positive reinforcement, raise arms and say “Tah-dah!” If a child does not yet have the strength to do this, intermediate steps may include:
  4. Have hands on a vertical surface (wall), lean forward, and push on the wall
  5. Offer the child support (such as your bent knee) to push up on (not pull up)
  6. Teach the child to place both of his hands on his forward knee and push down on his knee as he stands up.
  7. A child will most likely have a preference for which leg he places forward. This is natural. Once he is very comfortable moving to stand with his preferred leg forward, try practicing with the other leg forward. TURN OVER→→

Ideas for practicing this skill at home include:

  • Sit on the floor for a play activity rather than in a chair. Model and cue your childto stand up using the “tah-dah”.
  • During play time, help your child get onto tall knees. Offer him a toy from above (out of reach) and ask him to stand up to get the toy.
  • If your child is sitting on the floor, hand him a playground ball and ask him to stand up holding the ball in both hands.
  • Play games in tall kneeling such as throwing and catching a ball.
  • Play similar games in ½ kneeling.
  • Instead of sitting with legs crossed ("criss-cross applesauce"), try long sitting with legs straight in front. Practice turning knees to the side to get into tall kneeling. Many young children are unfamiliar with this step and need practice.

Idea for Classroom Teachers: “Musical Tah-Dah”

With this game, children have the fun of musical chairs without the chairs! Play some lively music and have the children walk or dance around in a circle. When you stop the music, the children all sit down on the floor and sit quietly with their legs in front of them. After several moments of silence, have the students lift their arms overhead, stand up, and play another round.Model and encourage standing up through ½ kneeling.

Please call or email if you have any questions or concerns: 717-732-8400 ext. 8549 or

Lori Glumac, PT, DSc, PCS, C/NDT

CAIU Physical Therapist