A manual for parents, teachers, and kids to restore their natural alignment • Explores the principles of natural alignment in accessible ways to share with children • Details simple and fun exercises--for kids and adults alike--that “remind” the body of its natural patterns and movements • Explains how innate movements and natural alignment play an essential role in the development of a fully functioning body and nervous system Babies and toddlers develop naturally healthy alignment by moving in instinctive ways. Their posture is easy and relaxed, founded on correct pelvic positioning and deep core muscles to hold their bodies upright. Yet, as evidenced by the slouching epidemic seen in school-age children, most kids lose this natural alignment early in life, often due to an overreliance on strollers, baby seats, and bucket-style carriers during infancy and the reluctance to put babies on their bellies because of widespread fear of SIDS. In this richly illustrated manual for parents, teachers, and kids themselves, movement educator and researcher Kathleen Porter explains how to relearn natural alignment with a simple movement routine that “reminds” the body of its natural patterns. Detailing the principles of natural alignment in accessible ways to share with children, she also explores research on the importance of “tummy time” and how the movement patterns present at birth act as an engine that activates neural pathways to key areas of the brain. In this way, movement plays an essential role in the development of a fully functioning nervous system, coordinated muscle tone, and a strong, internal core that stabilizes the spine and prepares the baby for the soon-to-be-acquired upright position. The author explains how many children who struggle with a growing number of neurodevelopmental challenges, including autism, learning disabilities, and ADHD, also exhibit poor muscle tone, lack of core development, and difficulties with balance and coordination. With a multitude of easy-to-follow principles and exercises--far more fun and effective than the futile mantra of “sit up straight”--Kathleen Porter provides a detailed road map for parents, teachers, and health professionals to learn how to guide children back to their natural posture by inhabiting their bodies mindfully for a lifetime of easy movement, strength, and energetic vitality--the hallmarks of enduring good health.

A revolutionary work that guides new parents in helping their baby form healthy movements, strong muscles, and a fit body during the child’s critical first year of life, filled with vital information and over 400 full-color photographs that clearly show how to create a strong foundation for a baby’s musculoskeletal health and future wellness A child’s first steps are one of the great miracles in life—one we think of as a natural, essential, intuitive process. But just as new parents foster positive digestive, emotional, and intellectual growth, we cannot leave it to nature and instinct alone to ensure that infants develop the strong musculoskeletal foundation they need. Little bodies are malleable: nerves are elongating, bones are hardening, muscles are strengthening—newborns are a never-ending process of physical change. The problem is that the car seat, the bouncer, the carrier, the crib, the pack-n-play—the very devices modern parents depend on for hands-free parenting—leave that precious developing bundle at the mercy of gravity and passive, bodyweight-based alignment. Shaping Your Baby’s Foundation gives new parents the information they need to safely and effectively build their baby’s muscle tone, strengthen the child’s growing body, and set their newborn on the path for a lifetime of wellness. Shaping Your Baby’s Foundation isn’t about hitting milestones (for example, walking early can mean a child missed some key areas of strengthening at earlier stages), it’s about growing well. Jen Goodman gives parents the tools they need to give their baby a body that will be strong and balanced by the time the child is vertical. By helping a baby meet gravity’s challenges during the first year of life, this book vastly increases the chances of that baby later remaining strong, fit, and healthy as a toddler, teen, and adult. Written in Goodman’s gentle and accessible, yet authoritative, voice, and aided by over 400 full-color photographs to guide parents step-by-step through the first year of their baby’s life, Shaping Your Baby’s Foundation is a revolutionary parenting bible for a new generation.

Our kid's postures are declining at the speed of technology. It is our responsibility to make them aware of their spine and its health. With this short story of a Dog, I am trying to teach them about healthy posture. Kids will get to know the difference between Happy & Sad Posture. And there is a great message for parents. I hope by preventing postural decline, we can manage many cognitive and physical developmental issues in little kids.

Sad Dog Happy Dog sounds the alarm on the worsening skeletal collapse facing each successive "techno" generation. Structural collapse stands alongside obesity as a serious threat to the long-term health of children growing up today.Movement educator and researcher Kathleen Porter illustrates how the seeds for structural collapse are often planted in the youngest bodies through the use of certain types of strollers, car seats, and other sitting devices that repeatedly place the pelvis in a "sad dog" position. Many hours spent sitting in front of TV and computer screens and in school desk chairs that reinforce "tucking disrupts a child's ability to rely on naturally aligned bones for relaxed, easy upright support.This book provides a detailed road map for parents, teachers, health professionals and fitness trainers to guide children-and themselves-back to natural, healthy posture. While specifically addressing the problems facing children, the information and guidelines presented here are also pertinent to tees and adults of any age.