Posture Exercises for Children

Posture conditions such as scoliosis or postural kyphosis typically first appear before adulthood. Minor conditions, such as postural kyphosis are often corrected through muscle-strengthening exercises. Developing a regimen of back-strengthening exercises for children can come with it's own set of problems, as weight training is often seen as harmful to developing bones and joints. A successful program for improving children's posture includes fun activities to condition and strengthen the critical posture muscles.

Two Handed Catch

• Catch is a good game to target the shoulder muscles as well as the trapeziums and rhomboid muscles that support the neck. In younger children, a sports ball such as a basketball or soccer ball can be used. Older children can work their way up to using a lightweight medicine ball.

Monkey Bars

• Climbing games, such as the ones that children engage in when playing on monkey bars, jungle gyms or other playground equipment will strengthen the same muscles that adults build through chin ups and weight training.

Strengthening Games

• Making a game out of exercise can increase a child's desire to participate in that exercise. For example, a game called 'zoo animals' can have your child pretending to be a cat while doing cat stretches, a bird while performing the shoulder blade squeeze or a snake while doing bridge lifts.