Stair Climbing Adventure for Toddlers

A carpeted staircase, or non-slip mats on hard stairs

Pick a staircase with carpet or add non-slip treads to hard stairs. A full flight works, but even 3-4 steps is perfect for practice.

Position yourself directly behind your toddler. Your job is to be a safety net — close enough to catch but giving them room to try.

Encourage your toddler to start climbing on their hands and knees. Most toddlers begin this way naturally around 12-14 months.

Count each step out loud: "One step! Two steps! Three steps!" The counting becomes part of the fun and builds early number sense.

Stay one step behind your toddler at all times. Keep your hands near their hips or lower back, ready to support.

At the top, celebrate big. Clap, cheer, give a high five. They just did something really hard.

Now comes the harder part: going down. Show your toddler how to turn around and go down backwards on hands and knees.

Guide their feet to each step as they descend. Say "Find the step with your foot" and gently direct their foot to the surface.

Going up is much easier than going down. Most toddlers master climbing up stairs weeks before they figure out going down safely. Be extra attentive during descent.

Teaching "feet first" going down is the most important safety lesson. If your toddler tries to go down headfirst, gently turn them around every single time.

Start with just 3-4 steps if you have a short staircase option. A full flight is exhausting for little legs.

Practice daily if you can. Stair climbing is one of those skills that improves dramatically with repetition.

Once your toddler starts walking more confidently (usually 18-24 months), they'll want to walk up holding the railing or your hand instead of crawling. Let them progress naturally.