A lateral sliding (side-shuffle) game where the child moves sideways without crossing feet, building a locomotor pattern rarely practiced daily.
- Demonstrate the side slide: face forward, step to the right with the right foot, then slide the left foot to meet it — feet never cross. Repeat to travel sideways.
- Set up two markers 3–5 meters apart.
- The child side-slides from one marker to the other, then back leading with the other foot.
- Make it a game: “You’re a crab on the beach scuttling between tide pools!” or set up a defensive basketball drill — “Stay in front of me!”
Variation: side-slide while holding a ball overhead; slide in a circle; parent rolls a ball and the child slides to intercept.
Requirements
- Space: 3–5 meters of clear lateral space
- Surface: Flat, non-slippery — gym floor, short grass, or indoor flooring with shoes
- Materials: Two markers for boundaries; optional ball
- Participants: 1 child; parent can play defense or roll balls
- Supervision: Light — once the pattern is learned
Rationale & Objective
Lateral sliding is a fundamental locomotor skill identified in the TGMD-2 and is critical for lateral agility, hip abductor/adductor strength, and sports readiness. It is rarely practiced spontaneously because daily movement is almost entirely forward/backward, making it a high-value exercise for filling a common gap. Sliding develops lateral weight shifting, hip joint flexibility, and spatial awareness. The BOT-2 Bilateral Coordination subtest includes lateral coordination items.
Progress Indicators
- Early: crosses feet (turns into a walk); moves very slowly; can only lead with one side; looks at feet
- Developing: maintains slide pattern for 3–5 m without crossing feet; can lead both sides; rhythm is choppy but functional; looks ahead
- Proficient: slides smoothly and quickly in both directions; maintains athletic posture (knees bent); changes direction on cue
- Advanced: slides rapidly with directional changes; slides while tracking a moving object; integrates slides into games naturally
Safety Notes
- Lateral movement loads the ankle differently — use flat surfaces to avoid ankle rolls
- Socked feet on hard floors can slip — use shoes or bare feet for grip
- Start slowly to learn the pattern without tripping
- If the child has ankle instability, use supportive shoes and short distances
Hints
- Playfulness: crab theme is natural. Also try “basketball defense” (child slides to stay in front), “goalkeeper” (slide to block soft balls)
- Sustain interest: use as warm-up for other games. Add to obstacle courses. Time and challenge to go faster
- Common mistake: children cross feet, turning slide into a walk. Cue “feet stay as friends — side by side, never cross!”
- Limited space: side-slide between two walls of a hallway (1–2 m). Even small back-and-forth trains the pattern
- Cross-domain: call out “left!”/“right!” for direction (laterality concepts, important for reading/writing); slide to music (rhythm); play “mirror” matching parent’s movements (social cognition)
- Progression: slow 3 m → both directions → faster → directional changes on cue → holding an object → intercept a rolling ball → integrate into games
Sources
- TGMD-2 — sliding as one of six fundamental locomotor skills
- BOT-2 Bilateral Coordination subtest — lateral coordination items
- SHAPE America Active Start guidelines
- NSW Health (Australia) — Munch & Move side-sliding activity card