Tips to Help Your Child Progress from Standing to Walking

Is your child struggling to stand without support or make the leap from standing to walking? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many parents face these challenges as their little ones navigate the exciting world of early mobility. The good news is that with the right strategies and activities, you can encourage their development and help them become confident in their movement.

Here are some tips and tricks to help your child build strength, balance, and coordination as they work toward walking.

Create the Right Environment: Before diving into specific activities, it’s essential to set up an environment that supports your child’s development. A safe and engaging space will encourage them to practice standing, cruising, and eventually walking.

How to Set Up:

• Place toys and objects at standing level: Position objects your child loves to play with just within reach when standing. This will motivate them to practice reaching and balancing.
• Provide stable surfaces to stand on: Look for surfaces that are around waist to shoulder height. These will give your child the right amount of support as they practice standing.
• Pad sharp corners: Safety is always a priority. Make sure any furniture with sharp edges is covered to prevent bumps and bruises as your little one moves around.

Fun Activities to Try at Home: With the environment set up, it’s time to try some activities that will encourage your child to stand and work on their walking skills. Always be ready to catch them or provide extra support when needed.

• Standing with Back Supported
  • Start by letting your child stand with their back supported, such as by leaning against a couch or a soft surface. This provides stability while they build their muscles and gives them confidence to stand without arm support.

• Cruising Between Two Surfaces
  • Cruising is when your child moves from one stable surface to another while holding on for support. Place two surfaces (like the couch and a sturdy table) within reach so your child can practice moving from one to the other. This helps with balance and coordination.

• Leveling Up the Cruising
  • To make cruising more challenging, encourage your child to turn around and reach for the next surface. This helps them develop rotational movements and improve their overall balance.

• Standing Up from a Chair
  • Another great exercise is teaching your child to stand up from a seated position to strengthen leg muscles.

Other Helpful Activities to Encourage Standing and Walking

These activities will continue to build your child’s balance and strength as they prepare to take their first steps.

• Squatting to Pick Up Toys
  • Encourage your child to squat down to pick up toys from the floor. You can hold onto one of their hands or provide some other form of support to help them gain confidence. Squatting helps develop the leg muscles needed for standing and walking.
• Hold a Toy Together
  • Instead of holding your child’s hand to support them, try holding a toy together. This reduces their reliance on hand-holding while still giving them something to grasp for balance.
• Reaching for Objects While Standing
  • Encourage your child to reach for toys or objects in a standing position, using just one hand for support. This builds their ability to balance while moving.
• Standing with Hands on a Vertical Surface
  • Let your child stand with their hands resting on a vertical surface, such as a door or large window. This gives them less support and encourages upright posture while they build strength in their legs and torso.
• Walking!
  • Ultimately, walking practice is the most effective way to help your child gain confidence and coordination. Start with short distances and increase them gradually as your child builds strength. The more they practice, the better they’ll get!

When to Seek Professional Help

While most children develop these skills at their own pace, some may need extra help along the way. If you’re seeing minimal progress despite trying these activities at home or if you notice a delay in “pre-walking” milestones, it may be time to consult a physical therapist.

Signs to Watch for:

• Minimal progress in standing, cruising, or other movement skills
• Delayed milestones, such as:
  • Not sitting without support by 8 months
  • Not crawling by 10 months
  • Not pulling to stand or cruising by 10-12 months
  • Not standing with support by 12 months
  • Not walking independently by 16-18 months

A consultation with a physical therapist could be beneficial to assess your child’s motor skills and provide specific strategies to support their development as needed. While the ages listed above can be a helpful guideline, research has shown that early intervention is key! Book a free phone consultation with one of our friendly pediatric PTs and get your questions answered. We’re here to support your family every step of the way!

Every child is different, and the journey from standing to walking can take time. Be patient, and celebrate each small milestone along the way. With consistent practice, a supportive environment, and lots of encouragement, your little one will soon be confidently taking steps!