Your walking child has mastered crawling up and down the stairs. You’re nervous, but he/she is ready for the next step (pun intended!). It’s time to walk like a big kid! Here are 3 quick tips to help your child on the stairs…
1. Practice, practice, practice! A child who is given ample opportunities to practice on the stairs will learn to do them more quickly. Find multiple reasons each day to encourage your child to climb the stairs. Example: Take laundry up/down without using a basket. Have your child carry a rolled pair of socks or a few washcloths in his/her left hand, while holding the railing with his/her right hand. Walk behind your child when going up the stairs, and in front of your child when going down the stairs.
2. No Bears on the Stairs! When children learn to ascend stairs, they will move between tall standing and placing two hands on the stairs in a Bear Walk position. Encourage your child to stand tall and hold the rail.
3. Start with the “Wedding March,” then move to the “Kindergartener.” Children naturally learn to place two feet on each step when they begin walking on stairs (“Wedding March”). As they become more adept, they place one foot per step in an alternating pattern. I call this the “Kindergartener,” because most school-aged children walk this way on the stairs. It is easier to alternate feet to ascend stairs, so children often do this first. If you think he/she is ready, tell your child to “climb the mountain,” to ascend stairs in a mature way. To descend stairs with one foot per step, tell your child to “Kick step” as you demonstrate.
Safety precautions: According to the CDC, injuries due to falls were the leading cause of nonfatal injury last year. Each year, approximately 2.8 million children have an initial emergency department visit for injuries from a fall. For children less than 1 year of age, falls account for over 50% of nonfatal injuries. Not only do young children need you to watch them on the stairs, they need an adult to be within arm’s length, should they lose their balance. If you are not on the stairs with your child, the stairs should not be accessible to them. This means using appropriate child safety gates. If you are unsure how to properly child-proof your stairs, please ask a professional.
Do you believe your child is delayed in walking, stairclimbing, or any other mobility skills? A physical therapist can help! Call our office to schedule an evaluation and learn ways to help your child develop the skills he/she needs to move, learn, and grow!