Active, Coordinated Movement

Taking It One Step at a Time: Three Ways to Get Your Child to Practice Climbing

Stairs can be a scary thing for a parent, and an inviting challenge for a child! However, helping your child learn to go up and down the stairs is an important step to ensure that he learns how to do it safely. (Note: Be sure to keep safety gates in place, and only allow your child to practice with you nearby!) By about the age of three, after all the practice you've done together, your child is likely fully able to walk up and down the steps on his own, placing only one foot on each step. He may or may not use the railing for support. Being able to climb, in general, is an important skill, helping improve balance, flexibility, and dexterity. If you don't have steps at home for your child to practice on, be sure to find some in your community (e.g. at the library) so that he can learn this important skill.

Has your child achieved the following Active, Coordinated Movement developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all of the skill(s) he has already mastered to date.