Getting concerned about your toddlers walking independently is normal for parents. Here is what experts are saying that will ease your anxiety.
According to Gary L. Freed, M.D., M.P.H., “Some children might reach certain milestones earlier or later than same-age peers. This doesn’t necessarily mean that one child is advanced or that another is delayed.”
Children’s development stages, like crawling, speaking, and walking, are the milestones for every parent. You can definitely make a conducive environment in your home that helps toddlers learn to walk.
How to Help a Toddler Walk Independently? Activities to Teach Your Kids Walking
Toddlers start walking around 12 months of age. But if they are not confident enough, you can encourage them to walk through different activities at home.
1. Let them explore barefoot
As an active mother or father, you might fear when your kid walks barefoot. However, it is a great exercise to encourage him to walk more.
When kids go barefoot, they get the feel of the surface by touching it directly. They understand the difference between grass, sand, carpet, tiles, and slippery surfaces. It helps them find balance on their own by engaging the intrinsic muscles necessary for walking.
2. Teach them to sit on a stool
It builds their core strength of curious and happy kids who are actively exploring their surroundings. When they try to reach the high furniture or tables on their own, they use their upper body. Similarly, when they learn to balance themselves on a small chair, stool, or bench, they will learn to stand and walk as well.
3. Reduce your support gradually
You need to support your baby to help them start walking, of course! But it’s just as important to step back sometimes so they can learn to walk on their own.
As a loving mother of your child, you might be afraid of them falling or tripping over, but those little tumbles are part of how they learn to walk.
One study shows that mothers of babies (9-18 months) tend to see dangerous objects as bigger than they are, as they focus on their child’s safety. Fathers don’t have this altered perception. Once kids can walk well, parents stop viewing objects as risky in the same way.
4. Give them interactive toys
This one is probably the most fun way to encourage babies to walk. These toys allow toddlers to engage their shoulder and core muscles while maintaining balance.
Following are some types of toys you can introduce to them:
- Push walkers: As toddlers push the walker, they practice weight shifting and coordination, which helps them maintain balance while walking on their own.
- Activity tables: With fun buttons, sounds, and beads, activity tables grab kids’ attention and encourage them to stand and play. This helps strengthen their muscles and improve their balance.
You can engage in specific exercises to help the baby walk. For instance, Ferris wheel exercises and reaching exercises.
Also, if your kid likes to do everything on his own, he might walk earlier than others. Although this is not proven by research, their strong spirit forces them to walk solo.
Related Guide: Why Toddlers Obsessed with Cars Love Them
Key Stages of Walking Development in Toddlers
Toddlers learn to walk in stages. The most common patterns are creeping, crawling, stepping, pulling up, cruising, and finally walking. But these stages can vary from toddler to toddler.
Some kids skip the crawling stage and start wobbly walking directly. Others walk on their tippy toes. So, it can be a little bit challenging for parents to know what to expect.
Here’s an easy guide to the stages and when your child might reach them.
| Stage | Age | Milestone |
| Crawling/Standing | 6 – 10 months | Begins crawling or scooting on bellyMay stand briefly with support |
| First Steps | 9 – 15 months | Short stridesArms held high for balance |
| Independent Steps | 10 – 18 months | Shows a wobbly and unsteady gaitMay often fall while walking |
| Confident Walking | 12 – 18 months | Walks more confidently with less falling.Begins walking faster or with a wider stance. |
| Refined Walking | 18 – 24 months | Walks with more stability and coordination.Begins to walk up and down stairs with help. |
Toddlers Walking Late: When to Consult the Professionals
Kids learn to walk at their own pace. But if your kid is showing these signs of delayed walking, you should consult a professional.
- Your child cannot stand while holding onto furniture by 12 months of age.
- Your toddler is not walking well by 18 months.
- He is regularly walking on tiptoes.
- He has low muscle tone or signs of weakness.
Heidi Murkoff, in her book What to Expect: The Toddler Years, phrases it perfectly: “Your first step in finding out why your son hasn’t yet taken his first solo steps is to consult his doctor, who might refer you to a specialist. If a thorough medical work-up rules out a developmental problem, you can breathe easier.”
Conclusion
You can not force the kids to learn to walk. However, activities like pushing little heavy toys, cruising, and making them sit on a chair can speed up their learning process. Once they become more confident, they start walking independently.
If you see some signs of delayed walking, immediately talk to a professional to get the right advice.