All About Encouraging Your Toddler To Walk

I have had the opportunity to bring up 2 children as well as I have observed so many people bring up children; one of the most exciting thing for a parent is to see his/her child take the first step. Every child takes his/her own time to take the first step; there is no need to be anxious and your child will show some signals that can tell you he is ready to take his first steps; he/she will want to explore and discover the world around for himself/herself.

6 ways in which you can encourage your toddler to start walking: 

1) If you think your toddler is too old to be pushed around in a stroller, try to provide support. This can be well done by kneeling in front of him/her and holding the hands and giving full support so he overcomes the fear of falling while walking.  Ensure you stay close to him/her so that he/she feels sure of your support and would not fear tumbling or sitting back with a thud.

2) Toys that stimulate faster development in a toddler; push toys with wide supportive base help a toddler to move forward pushing it by holding it. Being focused on play the child could most probably take a few steps pushing the toy.

3) Encouraging the toddler to walk by cheering his/her achievements; visit a park or go for a short walk without the stroller and persuade your toddler to walk at least a few steps. It would help to make these trips more frequent and extend the time you make your toddler walk. Ensure you encourage him/her for all the efforts made with praise and cheering; he will soon be encouraged to walk more.

4) Toddlers like all of us seem to follow the peer group; it would help to allow toddlers to play with children of their own age group either in the playground or on play dates. This would not only help develop better social skills, but would also be a thrust for him/her to walk faster.

5) Toddlers prefer to walk barefoot and are wary of shoes that affect their traction and grip in the beginning. Make sure the environment is free of hurdles and delay buying shoes for your toddler till he/she is able to walk a few steps comfortably.  

6) It is to be realized that helping a child to develop gross and fine motor skills helps in bringing about quicker all round development that includes the toddler learning to walk. Help him/her to take a few steps before he/she starts walking.

Finally it is futile to worry too much just because your toddler does not walk or is slow in learning other skills; so long as your toddler is capable of bearing his/her body weight on his legs there is no need to worry. Lets endeavor to make walking a enjoyable learning experience for our toddlers.