{"h1":"If a child in your care isn't running yet","faq":[{"a":"Most children begin a wobbly, stiff-legged run between 18 and 24 months, once they have been walking steadily for a few months. Smooth, confident running develops over the following year.","q":"At what age do children usually start running?"},{"a":"If the child is walking well and is otherwise strong and curious, this is usually within the normal range and worth gentle monitoring with plenty of active play. A check is wiser if walking itself was delayed past 18 months or there is stiffness, weakness or frequent falling.","q":"Should I worry if a 2-year-old in my care isn't running?"},{"a":"Independent walking by around 18 months is the key earlier milestone. If a child isn't walking by then, that deserves a developmental check before worrying about running.","q":"What is more important than running at this age?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-running","title":"If a child in your care isn't running yet","entity":{"key":"running","kind":"skill","name":"running","slug":"running"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Caregiver","value":"caregiver"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Motor","value":"motor"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Concern","value":"concern"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-running","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing running?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-running-skills","title":"Is It Normal My Child Isn't Showing Running Skills Yet?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-running-skills","title":"If a child isn't yet running: a caregiver's guide"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-running-skills","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing running skills?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-cannot-running-skills-yet","title":"Is It Normal That My Child Cannot Run Yet?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-cannot-running-yet","title":"What does it mean if my child cannot run yet?"}],"summary":"Most children start running between 18 and 24 months, after a few months of steady walking. A child walking well but not yet running near age 2 is usually within the normal range and worth gentle monitoring. Seek a developmental check if a child isn't walking by 18 months, has lost a skill, or shows stiffness, weakness, frequent falling or persistent toe-walking. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.","answer_md":"*Watching for those first running steps is natural — and noticing the gap, with a calm eye, is loving caregiving.*\n\n## In short\nMost children begin running — a wobbly, stiff-legged trot at first — somewhere between **18 and 24 months**, after they have been walking steadily for a few months. If a child in your care is walking well but not yet running by around 2 years, this is usually within the normal range and worth gentle monitoring. The time to arrange a developmental check is when a child **isn't walking by 18 months**, has stopped using a skill they once had, or shows running alongside frequent falling, stiffness, weakness or toe-walking that doesn't settle.\n\n## What to watch\nRunning is a gross-motor milestone (ICF mobility, d4) that builds on confident walking, balance and leg strength. Encourage it through play rather than pressure. Gentle flags that deserve a clinician's eye:\n\n- **Not walking independently by 18 months** — this is the more important earlier milestone to check first.\n- **Frequent falling or great difficulty with balance** well beyond the early walking months.\n- **Stiffness, weakness, persistent toe-walking, or one side used much less** than the other.\n- **Loss of a movement skill** the child once had — always worth prompt review.\n- **Motor delays travelling with** few words, little eye contact or reduced social connection.\n\nIf a child is simply cautious or a late mover but otherwise strong and curious, plenty of active play usually does the rest.\n\n## When to act\nIf walking itself is delayed past 18 months, or running difficulty comes with stiffness, weakness or loss of skills, arrange a developmental check now rather than waiting. What you observe every day is valuable information for a clinician.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Our clinicians watch how a child moves, balances and plays, then shape support around joyful, active play. You can read more about [running](/running) as a milestone, and our [physiotherapy](/physiotherapy) team can help build strength, coordination and confidence.\n\n## Trusted sources\nCDC developmental milestones and \"Learn the Signs, Act Early\" resources on gross-motor skills; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) guidance on toddler movement and developmental monitoring; WHO ICF framework for mobility (d4).\n\n**Next step —** Trust what you've noticed. [Book a developmental assessment](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) for a calm, clear review of the child's movement and milestones.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-running","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-running","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"}],"meta_title":"Child Not Running Yet? A Caregiver's Guide","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Make running a game — gentle chasing, fetching a ball, or stepping over cushions on the floor. Barefoot play on safe surfaces helps build the balance and leg strength that running grows from.","published_at":"2026-06-10T11:28:00.067142+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-running-skills","title":"If a child isn't yet running: a caregiver's guide","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-running","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing running?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-running-skills","title":"Is It Normal My Child Isn't Showing Running Skills Yet?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-running-skills","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing running skills?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-running","title":"When Do Toddlers Start Running?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"by-what-age-is-a-child-usually-expected-to-running-and-what-should-a-teacher-expect-in-class","title":"By what age is a child usually expected to run, and what should a teacher expect in class?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"could-difficulty-with-running-be-a-sign-of-a-developmental-delay","title":"Could difficulty with running be a sign of a developmental delay?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"during-a-home-visit-what-should-a-frontline-worker-observe-about-a-child-learning-to-running","title":"Observing a child learning to run on a home visit","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"if-a-child-cannot-running-at-the-expected-age-when-should-a-frontline-health-worker-escalate","title":"When to escalate a child who cannot run at the expected age","reason":"Same 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home & in everyday life","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Seek a check if a child isn't walking by 18 months, has lost a movement skill once had, or shows frequent falling, stiffness, weakness, one-sided use or persistent toe-walking. Running typically begins 18–24 months after steady walking — late but otherwise strong movers usually just need active play.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC developmental milestones (Learn the Signs, Act Early)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP guidance on toddler movement and development"},{"url":"https://icd.who.int","label":"WHO ICF framework for mobility"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T11:28:00.067142+00:00","meta_description":"Most children start running by 18–24 months. Learn what's typical, what to watch for, and when a gentle developmental check is wise for a child in your car","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}