Push-ups are an important stationary movement control skill that helps kids establish a foundation of posture, strength, and stability for activities related to sports and daily life. When your kids struggle with push-ups however, below is a step by step blueprint to build the proprioception, body awareness, strength, and stability to make this movement skill part of their lifelong athletic toolbox.
Step 1: Prep the Proprioceptors
Realize that most kids spend a majority of their time seated in classrooms, couches, and cars. The proprioceptors in their muscles and joints that provide feedback about things like tension and force get used to this supported position.
Step 2: Static Start
Once kids start to demonstrate a general level of proprioceptive and body awareness, it’s a much easier transition into the more refined demands of learning how to do a push-up. Even with these improved abilities however, the coordination required to effectively put the movement together could be a bit much out of the gate.
Doing static exercises in different positions during a push-up helps build the specific strength and stability necessary for the movement.
Step 3: Controlled Cadence
Once they have developed the static foundations of the push-up movement, it’s time to teach them how to maintain these foundations while they lower and raise their body under control.
