Standing, squatting to pick up toys, maybe letting go for a second—the countdown to walking has begun.
These activities strengthen leg muscles, develop dynamic standing balance, and build the confidence your baby needs to take those first independent steps.
Your baby stands independently for brief moments, squats to pick up toys, and may take first steps while holding your hands. This dynamic standing — shifting weight, recovering balance, moving between positions — is the final preparation for walking.
Let your baby practice standing and squatting freely. Offer push toys for supported walking practice. Don't rush first steps — the balance and strength built by cruising and supported walking make independent walking safer and more confident when it comes.
Dynamic standing and squatting at ten months develop the weight-shifting and recovery balance that make confident, safe independent walking possible.
Stacking and nesting toys are perfect for this age. Your baby is learning about size, order, and cause-and-effect with every tower they build and knock down.
First words may be emerging! Name everything you see throughout the day—narrating your world is the single best vocabulary builder.
Brief standing is happening! Let your baby practice standing while holding your fingers—building the leg strength and balance for walking.
Lay out different textured surfaces in a path for your baby to crawl across — a sensory-rich adventure that builds motor planning and exploration.
Set up a furniture path with interesting toys at each stop to encourage your baby to cruise along — a natural bridge to independent walking.
Stack soft blocks in front of your sitting baby and let them knock the tower over — a satisfying game that practices sitting balance and reaching.
Play a gentle tug-of-war with silky scarves to build your baby's grip strength and upper body coordination — a fun two-way game.
Roll a soft ball toward your baby and encourage them to reach, grab, or crawl after it — a classic activity that motivates movement across the floor.
Help your baby practice pulling up from lying down to sitting with your hands as support — a milestone-building activity for growing core muscles.