Walking with one hand held, climbing everything in sight, squatting and standing—your baby's body is almost ready for takeoff.
These activities develop assisted walking confidence, strengthen climbing skills safely, and build the balance reactions that make independent walking possible.
Your baby walks with one hand held, climbs onto low furniture, and may be taking independent steps. They stand up from the middle of the floor — a complex sequence requiring core strength, leg power, and balance. The fine motor system is also maturing, with more controlled release and precision placement.
Provide safe spaces for climbing and walking practice. Offer toys that require precise placement — stacking rings, simple puzzles, posting boxes. Your baby's confidence grows with every successful attempt.
Pre-walking skills at eleven months build the confidence, balance, and motor planning that make independent walking feel natural when it arrives.
Walking is right around the corner. Push toys and sturdy furniture give your almost-toddler the confidence to take those first wobbly steps.
Your baby loves imitating you. Give them a play phone, a small broom, or safe kitchen items—pretend play is starting!
Simple shape sorters and chunky puzzles build problem-solving skills. Cheer when they get a piece in—confidence matters more than speed.
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.