Supporting your Little One Step by Step
It’s hard to imagine that the sweet little baby you brought home is beginning to take their first steps. Exciting. Terrifying. Heartwarming. This developmental milestone brings with it all of the emotions. As your child moves steadily towards walking, there are a handful of things parents and caregivers may do to support their little one on the exciting journey of learning to walk.
A Safe and Spacious Walking Zone
Give your toddler room to roam! And, well, to fall. Prepare a safe area where your child can cruise along the furniture, practice standing and take brave first steps—without sharp corners and lots of obstacles to get in their way.
Pro Tip: Barefoot is best indoors. Going without shoes helps toddlers develop balance and strength in their feet (AAP).
Build Strength and Confidence
Play is consistently the best way for toddlers to learn and it can double as a workout! Encourage your little one to crawl through tunnels, to pull up on study furniture and to stand while leaning on a low table! This will help develop the muscles and coordination that will later be used to walk. According to Zero to Three, play-based movement fosters physical development and motor skills, setting the stage for walking and other milestones (Zero to Three).
Here at Chester Child Development Center we are ready for your little pre-walkers! Schedule a tour and check out our toddler rooms!
Cruising and Furniture Walking
Before taking steps independently, toddlers commonly “cruise”—standing and holding onto couches or tables as they move sideways. You can support your child by placing toys just out of reach to encourage them to stand up and reach for what they want. This will encourage standing, cruising, and eventually, walking! Push toys such as shopping carts can help build balance and courage.
We have tons of toys, tactics, cruiser-level furniture and more to help your little one grow in their confidence to walk. Schedule a tour with us here at Chester CDC to take a peek at out classrooms and ask our teachers how they like to support new walkers.
Celebrate Every Wobble and Step
Your toddler is always watching and now is the time to respond! Your reactions will make a world of difference as your child begins to take steps, stumble and walk. Clapping, smiling, and cheering them on the whole time will help build your little one’s confidence while they build their strength.
Encouragement from caregivers and childcare providers bolsters toddler self-esteem, which supports risk-taking and learning through trial and error (Harvard Center on the Developing Child).
Encouragement while learning anything is essential–Especially for small children. Here at Chester Child Development Center we are happy to be one of your little one’s biggest fan! Call today and come meet our caring and wonderful early childhood educators.
Activities that Support Motor Skills
Whether at home, daycare, or childcare, activities such as obstacle courses, dance time, and nature walks can be very supportive in helping small children learn to walk. A report from ChildCare Aware of America highlights how early childhood education settings are key environments for developing physical skills through both structured as well as free play.
Come see us here at Chester CDC —we have various centers, toys, and activities planned to challenge and entertain children in a variety of ways!
Be Patient
The CDC’s developmental milestones can help lay out when parents and caregivers might expect their child to walk, as well as when to seek additional support. It is important to remember that each child grows and develops differently. Keep an eye on your child, share concerns with your pediatrician and continue to encourage them as they take this huge developmental leap!
Patience is our middle name here at Chester Child Development Center . Well, not technically, but our early childhood educators and staff here are masters of patience! Schedule a tour with us and see the learning—and patience—in action!
Walking Into the Future, One Tiny Step at a Time
These steps are small sweet wonders now, but they are the beginnings of a lifetime of exploration! Whether parenting at home, teaching in an early childhood education center or watching your sweet grandchildren while mom and dad work, there are a multitude of ways to support little one on this walking journey. Just remember to enter into it this season with patience, playfulness, praise, and potentially a soft mat or two.
Get ready, because once these little guys get walking, they don’t stop!
Here at Chester Child Development Center we would love to have the opportunity to be part of your child’s early childhood education journey! Call today to chat and ask about our openings–We’d love to have you!