Transfers: Assisted Floor to Stand

These instructions for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) caregivers describe how to safely assist their child from the floor to standing.

Instructions for helping your child from the floor to standing:

Using a bench

Begin with the child in a sitting position with knee(s) bent. Set up a low bench behind the child and have them place their hands on the bench.

Squat behind the child, and support under the child's bottom. Tell the child when you are ready to lift, using a count of three.

Encourage the child to assist with their arms while you assist to lift the child onto the bench. A second person may be needed to support the child's leg, if there is an injury, cast or splint.

Now that the child is sitting on the bench, place a chair or wheelchair behind the child and repeat the steps above. You may need to angle yourself off to the side so that there is enough room for the child to safely transfer into the chair. 

Through half kneel

Assist the child onto their hands and knees.

Place a stable surface, such as a chair or bench, in front of the child to allow the child to use their arms for the transfer.

Assist the child into a half kneeling position, leading with their preferred or stronger leg. 

Encourage the child to push through their arms. Provide support at the child's trunk and hips to assist the child to come into standing.

Reviewed on February 13, 2023, by Alison Troilo, PT, DPT