2.5 year old can't jump

xMissLissx

My kid is almost 2.5 and cannot jump. I didn't think anything of it until I saw it in what to expect. He can climb and walk up steps (holding the rail) he just isn't able to jump. He thinks he can jump but he doesn't get any air. Anyone have a late jumper? What can I do to help him?

CopperT0p

It took DS a while to catch on to how to get air while jumping.  I cannot remember what age it was, but probably just before 2.5 years old.

We would hold his hands and give him a little help up when he'd tried to jump so he'd get the sensation of getting air.  Then we would show him how to bend his knees deeply to get more power in his jump.  One day he just 'got it' and was a jumping bean.  We also had/have him in gymnastics so he gets practice on the trampolines there. 

I don't think it's a huge deal so long as they are trying. 

RachieTK

Mine is a jumping bean, so I'm not speaking from experience, but from logic- what about a trip to a bounce house or gym with a trampoline? Natural jumping grounds... With a little gravity boost.

JMU_Bride09

DS1 is just under 2.5 and only started getting air with his jumps in the last month or so. Your LO will probably get the hang of jumping soon; just give him some more time

ashiscute

DD was about 2.5 when she learned to jump and now its her favorite thing to do.  Try holding his hand and jumping off something really low like a half step.  We have a half step into our sunroom we jumped off for ages before she'd really jump and not step.  Jumping off is easier than jumping from a standing position.  Also, DD started in gymnastics and really got the hang of it there.  She loves it.  

blu-eyedwife

I'm in the same boat as RachieTx - my guy is jumping crazy.  BUT, he has trampolines at daycare, so he's been jumping on those for over a year on a regular basis.  And we got him a trampoline last year for Christmas, so he does lots of bouncing.  It took a while for him to go from bending his knees up and down and getting some real air, so I think that the idea of introducing something naturally bouncy is a definite helper.  (And I'd recommend the bed, but I forsee that being a really bad idea in the future.  Something about monkeys and bumping their heads?)