Caring for the proper development of a young child is the priority task of every parent. It is the duty of caregivers to create ideal conditions for the little one, so that it can grow healthily, acquire new skills and overcome milestones in its development. One of these is walking. Do you want to teach your child to walk independently, but don't know how to do it? Check it out!

The taking of the first step by a toddler is a big event in the life of the family and a very touching moment - now you are watching the child for the first time, independently and cautiously begin to walk, and soon you will see him set off ahead into the world already without your help. However, it will take a long time before your little one starts to walk steadily and confidently. During this time, the child is bound to fall over more than once and hit something unfortunate. Not surprisingly, many parents want to assist their toddler in acquiring this skill. However, improperly provided assistance can do more harm than good. Therefore, it is essential to check how a child should be taught to walk.

Stages of learning to walk for an infant - what does learning to walk look like?

The baby is preparing to walk from the day of birth. By lifting the head and turning from tummy to back and vice versa, the baby strengthens the spine, develops the muscles of the back, arms and legs and develops the sense of balance. These are activities needed not only to sit up independently, but also to make the first attempts to walk.

However, in order for a child to start moving independently, it must furthermore go through the following stages:

• Standing in the "bear" position, that is, straightening the arms and legs while being in the "on all fours" position and balancing the body,
• Pulling up against rungs or furniture, for example. First on your knees and then on your feet,
• walking sideways, such as along furniture or walls, once in one direction and once in the other.

While performing these exercises, the child masters the ability to keep the pelvis in the correct position in relation to the body, position the legs in the right way and with an even load on the whole feet, and maintain balance. What's more, with simple posture, the child can learn more about the surrounding environment, which significantly expands his range of knowledge about the world, and thus his vocabulary.

Only when a toddler has mastered all these skills can he dare to take his first step on his own without holding on to furniture or a parent. This stage can take either a few weeks or several months. It all depends on the character, as well as the individual abilities of each child.

Jak pomóc dziecku chodzić?

Your little one does not show any desire to attempt to walk on his own or even try to learn it? Remember that a child has until the age of 18 months to take his first steps. However, if there is something that worries you about his development, contact a pediatrician or physiotherapist, who will assess the child's stage of development and help rule out any difficulties. In addition, the specialist can point out what to do differently or better to encourage the toddler to attempt to walk independently in passing.

In addition to ruling out abnormalities in your child's development, you can:

• Encourage your little one to get up and walk around with interesting, such as interactive toys. Educational table, singing teddy bears, gadgets with moving parts will certainly attract his attention. After a while, the toddler will not be able to resist them and will start trying to reach for them out of curiosity,
• Invest in good-quality, first baby shoes that will give little feet the right support while not restricting their range of motion. Although toddlers should move barefoot as much as possible, this is not always possible. In order for your child to practice walking also, for example, in the garden or on the playground, soft shoes with a flexible sole from the Tupu Tupu range will come in handy.
• Prepare the space accordingly. For example, you can install a mirror with a handrail in the room or hallway, in which the child can look at himself while trying to stand and step sideways,
• ensure safety. An unfortunate fall can discourage your child from trying to walk on his own. Therefore, remember to hide any protruding cables, remove furniture with sharp corners and secure doors from slamming. This will keep your child safe and give you peace of mind.

Many people are also considering buying a walker. This is not a good idea. When playing in such a gadget, the muscles of the toddler's back and legs are not stimulated to activity, so they become weak and limp. What's more, often kids misplace their feet - instead of rolling them on the ground, they push off only with their toes. As a result, it is easy to develop unfavorable habits, the correction of which often requires the help of specialists.

Remember that the most important rule for properly supporting a child's learning to walk is to give him time. The toddler should mature on his own to the point where he wants to move independently.

First shoes for a child who is learning to walk - when to buy and which ones to choose?

Many people buy their first shoes before the toddler starts walking. This is a mistake. A toddler who can't take steps on her own doesn't need shoes that can restrict the range of motion of her feet.

The first shoes should be bought when the child wants to walk independently during walks outside. In this situation, choose shoes made of soft, natural materials that will not irritate tiny feet. For winter, for example, boots that wrap around the whole feet will work. On the other hand, for summer, sandals with a comfortable closure around the ankle will be a better choice.

Remember that the footwear should have a soft and flexible sole, which will allow the leg muscles to work freely and the foot to roll properly on the ground. In addition, it is worth ensuring that the shoes are lightweight, so that the toddler does not put too much energy into walking.

Learning to walk is a very individual process. It is worth keeping this in mind and not putting undue pressure on your child.