East Gippsland Newspapers 2 2026 Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Avoid W-sitting for health benefits W-sitting is when your child sits on their bottom with their knees bent, so their legs are splayed out on either side of their body, which looks like a "W" from above. When your child sits in this way, their base of support is wider and their centre of gravity is lower, increasing stability through their hips and trunk which makes it easier for them to play because they don't have to use their muscles to stay balanced. As a parent, you should be concerned if this is your child's preferred sitting position and you notice them sitting this way all the time. So what's wrong with W-sitting? Constant W-sitting may result in your child experiencing developmental delays of fine and gross motor skills, poor coordination and balance, or delayed physical development in their muscles and joints. By sitting in this position all the time, they don't get to shift their weight from side to side, or achieve active rotation through their body. When your child is rotating their trunk and shifting their body weight around, they are developing balance reactions which they need as they grow. This allows your child to maintain balance while running or playing on the playground. The ability of your child to play from left to right and vice-versa helps them develop their ability to cross the midline which is very important for developing handwriting skills. Continued W-sitting may result in delayed bilateral coordination, which is the ability to effectively use both sides of the body together. If this is not developed as your child continues to grow, you may notice delays in skills such as skipping, throwing and kicking. A prolonged period of W-sitting also puts unnecessary stress on your child's developing hip and knee joints. Sitting in this position for excessive periods of time may lead to the shortening or tightening of your child's hip, knee and leg muscles and potentially weaken their developing core or trunk muscles. This may lead to "pigeon-toed" walking, and could increase your child's chance of back or pelvic pain as they grow. One study also suggests that W-sitting as a pre-schooler may increase the likelihood of a child becoming flat-footed on both feet (European Journal of Paediatrics, Chen KD, 2010). If you notice your child frequently moving in and out of W-sitting then you don't need to be worried. However, if you notice that your child always sits in this way, you will need to encourage and remind them to sit in other ways. If your child struggles to sit in any other way other than W-sitting, please consider making an appointment with one of our osteopaths for an examination and assessment. Sitting properly is imporant for babies and toddlers. (PS) Christian College expands vision for senior secondary years Bairnsdale Christian College is a caring Christian school where students are well known, well loved and well taught. Located on Bairnsdale-Dargo Road, the college currently offers prep to year 10 and is preparing to introduce years 11 and 12 in the near future, pending VRQA approval. The planned expansion reflects the school's commitment to supporting local families with a Christ-centred education from the early years through to senior secondary. At Bairnsdale Christian College, every child is valued as unique. Teachers take the time to understand each student's strengths, interests and learning needs, creating a supportive environment where children can grow in confidence, character and curiosity. The school focuses on steady progress, strong foundations and helping each student flourish academically, socially and spiritually. Families also benefit from the college's private bus service, designed to make school travel easier. BCC currently operates a Stratford bus route and is planning a new Lakes Entrance route from next year, helping more local families access a caring Christian education close to home. Families considering prep in 2027 are invited to attend the college's upcoming prep information morning on Wednesday, June 3, from 9.30am-11am. The morning will provide an opportunity to meet teachers, explore the classroom, hear the latest updates, ask questions and experience the BCC difference firsthand. To learn more or register to attend, visit the Bairnsdale Christian College website. Bairnsdale Christian College, on Bairnsdale-Dargo Road, offers a caring Christian education from prep to year 10, with plans to introduce years 11 and 12 pending VRQA approval. The college focuses on strong academic foundations and individual student growth in a supportive environment, with private bus services including a Stratford route and a planned Lakes Entrance route. Families are invited to a prep information morning on Wednesday, June 3, from 9.30am to 11am ahead of 2027 enrolments. (PS)
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