One of the most common requests I get from family members is how to encourage independent walking. Once that year’s birthday marker passes, our “new parent” anxieties seem to peak, with questions from family and friends, “So is he walking?” or “Has she made her first steps?”

The first promise I can give my family is Movement milestones exist on a continuum.Each child acquires these skills in their own time and in their own way. While we learn about motor development from textbooks and neurodevelopmental theories to explain skill acquisition and motor patterns, this progression manifests itself in very different ways when we view each child as a unique creation .

Personalities vary, and some children are always on the lookout, in search of new sensory experiences, investigating every new noise, new smell, new image. Other kids are happy to be sedentary, letting the objects and people in their lives come to them and interact with them at their level. Sometimes, as parents and caregivers, we need to encourage more exploration to facilitate gross and fine motor development, as well as language acquisition.

Our own son and dinosaur PT mascot, Abe, can’t walk by his first birthday, so here are some helpful tips I’ve had success with both as a pediatric physical therapist and as a mom!

Tips for Encouraging Independent Walking

Tip #1: Encourage independent walking by promoting barefoot exploration whenever possible. Allowing children to experience different tactile surfaces along the plantar surface of their feet recruits the ultimately developed intrinsic muscles that make up the arch support.

Standing and navigating barefoot also promotes a more natural weight shift and weight bearing, helping children develop the static and dynamic balance needed to walk independently. So take off your shoes and socks and join the ranks of walking barefoot on grass, sand, padded, hard floors…the possibilities are endless!

Tip #2: Move everything from the floor to different surfaces around the play space. Choose different heights, different locations throughout the day, identify objects that are most motivating to your child, and make those objects harder to reach.

Abe is really stimulated shape classifierso at the highest level these days!

To achieve certain goals, Abe stood up (in this this week’s activities!), and crouch low to reach the others.When he brings me certain items, either a book for me to read together, or colorful coins to help him put in his piggy bankEncourage him to let go of the support of his upper body, turn his body, stand independently, preferably take a small or two steps.

Tip #3: Encourages reaching objects above and below the head, bubble, balloonput ball in the hoop.

As children move away from external support, which will promote a reduced reliance on external support for the upper body, they will activate their support base, engage in homeostasis responses, and promote trunk strength and weight bearing through a stabilized lower body.

Tip #4: Double manual labor is encouraged. We’re once again taking the focus away from the outside support your child has been relying on. Provide an item that your child needs to operate and carry with both hands.

Promoting standing and walking discourages reaching for support and encourages greater activation of the trunk and lower body muscles as the child grasps objects with both hands. O-ball offers some nice options, two musical toy (one for each hand!), a large stuffed animal, and any stimulus that requires both hands to engage and move so that the child’s torso and lower body are asked to maintain balance and stable support.

As you can see in the photo above, Abe is holding a Whisk Right hand crosses midline, left hand grabs another musical toy, both hands occupied, stand alone!

Tip #5: Transformation is encouraged! Many of our little ones achieve this position using their upper body more than their lower body. We can encourage standing up in other ways, such as:

• The transition from sitting to standing on a low bench, cube chair or foam rollerpromoting knees over toes to push up into standing (vs. using upper body to pull up to standing).

Click to view Abe’s video sitting and standing!

• Transition from sitting to high kneeling to half kneeling to standing floor to standing (promotes development of trunk and lower body musculature).

Click to view Abe’s video standing floor!

Tip #6: Introduce the concept of “dynamic support”.promote weighted shopping cart, toy caror big therapy ball All of this helps encourage weight bearing and movement in space while reducing reliance on static sources of stability.

Facilitates weight bearing through the legs, shifting the center of gravity and reducing reliance on stable support as children must begin to anticipate movement and adjust their body accordingly.

Tip #7: encourage independent walking climbing ramp and stairspromotes dissociation and strengthening of the trunk and lower body.

Tip #8: Change the environment. Take your kids to different environments: outdoor playgrounds, indoor gyms, homes of friends and family.

Different settings bring different experiences, new challenges and new dynamics to physically interact with your surroundings! A great way to encourage independent walking, generalize skills and prevent any level of complacency.

Tip #9: Enjoy every moment. Despite lack of sleep, hunger, and stress…try to enjoy these moments with your kids.

Every skill acquired, big or small, is a great achievement that should be relished and applauded for you and your child!

Tip #10: Request for help. If all else fails, seek help. Pediatric Physiotherapist Can provide activity recommendations, equipment ideas, and help evaluate any potential causes of developmental issues you may have. No judgment, only helpful guidance awaits if you contact the right professional!