Teaching Children to Walk

One question I hear often from families is: How can I encourage my child to walk independently?

As the first birthday approaches, the questions seem to follow:

“So, is he walking yet?”
“Has she taken her first steps?”

It’s easy to wonder whether your child is on track, but motor milestones exist on a continuum. Each child achieves these skills in their own time and in their own way.

Although textbooks and theories help us understand motor development, real children don’t always follow a predictable timeline. Personality, environment, and opportunities for movement all play a role.

Some children are natural explorers, constantly seeking out new experiences. Others are perfectly happy staying in one spot and letting the world come to them!

Sometimes, as parents and caregivers, we can provide a little extra encouragement and create opportunities for exploration.

Our own son, and Dinosaur PT mascot, Abe, was not yet walking on his first birthday. Here are some suggestions I’ve found helpful, both as a Pediatric Physical Therapist and a mom!

Tips to Encourage Independent Walking

Encourage Barefoot Exploration

Whenever it is safe and appropriate, give your child opportunities to explore barefoot.

Different textures and surfaces provide valuable sensory input through the feet and allow children to experience natural weight shifting and weight bearing as they develop balance and coordination.

Try grass, sand, padded mats, carpet, hardwood floors, or other safe surfaces.

And don’t be afraid to join in!

Change the Height and Location of Toys

Move favorite toys from the floor to different surfaces around the play space. Place motivating objects just far enough away or high enough up to encourage your child to reach, squat, stand, or move.

Abe was particularly motivated by his shape sorter, so we placed it at a higher level where he had to work a little harder to reach it.

When he brought toys to me, a book to read together or coins for his piggy bank, I could encourage him to let go of his support, rotate his body, stand independently, and maybe take a step or two.

The goal isn’t to force walking. We’re creating interesting reasons for your child to move.

Encourage Reaching Up, Down, and Away

Try motivating activities with bubbles, balloons, or a ball in a hoop.

Reaching in different directions encourages your child to shift their weight and adjust their balance while standing.

Put something interesting just outside your child’s comfortable reach and see what they do to get it!

Promote Two-Handed Activities

Offer activities that require your child to use both hands.

Try a large stuffed animal, an O-Ball, two musical toys (one for each hand!), or another favorite object.

When both hands are occupied, your child can’t immediately use them for support. This encourages them to rely more on their trunk and legs to maintain their balance.

Encourage Transitions

Many little ones learn to pull themselves to standing by relying heavily on their arms. We can also encourage other ways to get to standing.

Sit to Stand

Try practicing sit to stand transitions from a low bench, cube chair, or foam roller. A low surface encourages your child to push through their legs rather than simply pulling themselves up with their arms.

Floor to Stand

Encourage your child to move from the floor to standing by progressing through: Sitting → tall kneeling → half kneeling → standing

These transitions help build trunk and lower-extremity strength while giving your child practice moving through different positions.

Introduce Dynamic Support

Once your child is comfortable standing while holding onto something stable, introduce activities where the support can move. Try a weighted push cart, toy car, or large therapy ball.

Moving an object requires your child to continually adjust their body as they move. This can be a nice bridge between supported standing and independent movement.

Encourage Climbing

Climbing ramps, steps, and stairs (with appropriate supervision and assistance) provides great opportunities for strengthening and coordination.

Climbing encourages your child to shift their weight, coordinate both sides of their body, and navigate different surfaces and levels.

Change Up the Environment

Take your child to different places and give them opportunities to move in new environments. Try an outdoor playground, indoor play space, a friend’s or family member’s home, or simply a different room in your house.

New environments provide new challenges and new reasons to explore. A child who moves comfortably across the living room floor may discover a whole new challenge when faced with grass, playground equipment, or a different arrangement of furniture.

Enjoy the Process

Despite being sleep deprived, hungry, stressed, and wondering when your child is finally going to walk…try to enjoy these moments.

It’s easy to focus on the next milestone and forget to celebrate the skills your child is already developing.

Every new skill, no matter how big or small, is an accomplishment.

Ask for Help

If you have concerns about your child’s development or walking skills, a Pediatric Physical Therapist can provide guidance, suggest activities and equipment, and help determine whether there may be factors affecting your child’s movement.