# How can I help my child move from walking to running and climbing?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-help-my-child-move-from-walking-to-running-and-climbing
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Children move from walking to running and climbing as they build strength, balance, coordination and confidence — usually beginning to run and climb low furniture around 18 months to 2 years. Parents help most through safe active play: slopes, low climbing frames, balance games and chasing play, while following the child's lead. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

*That wobbly first walk is just the beginning — running, climbing and clambering are the next joyful chapter, and you can help your child get there through play.*

## In short
The move from walking to running and climbing is a natural progression that unfolds over many months as your child builds **strength, balance, coordination and confidence**. You help most by giving plenty of safe, active, playful practice — uneven ground, gentle slopes, low climbing frames and lots of chasing games — and by following your child's lead rather than rushing them. Most children begin running (a little stiffly at first) and climbing onto low furniture somewhere around 18 months to 2 years, with smoother, surer movement developing through the third year.

## How to help, through play
- **Strengthen the legs and core** — squatting to pick up toys, standing back up, pushing a weighted toy cart, and walking up gentle slopes all build the power running and climbing need.
- **Practise balance** — walking along a low kerb, stepping over cushions, or standing on one foot during a song teaches the body control that running demands.
- **Invite climbing safely** — low, stable steps, soft play structures and supervised stairs (going up first, then learning to come down) let your child rehearse climbing where falls are cushioned.
- **Play chasing and stopping games** — "ready, steady, go!" running, freeze games and gentle catch teach starting, stopping and changing direction — the real skills of running.
- **Let them be barefoot** when safe — bare feet on grass, sand or carpet help little feet grip and balance better than stiff shoes.
- **Follow their lead and cheer effort** — confidence grows when a child feels safe to try, stumble and try again. Celebrate the wobble, not just the win.

Progress is rarely a straight line — some weeks race ahead, others pause. That is normal.

## When to seek a check
Speak to a developmental professional if, by around 2 years, your child is not yet walking steadily, seems to tire very quickly, walks consistently on tiptoes, strongly favours one side of the body, frequently falls more than peers, or has clearly lost a movement skill they once had. These are reasons for a friendly check, not alarm.

## The Pinnacle way
AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. If you'd like reassurance or a plan to build your child's movement skills, our [developmental check and AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) gives a clear picture, and our [occupational and physiotherapy support](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) helps strengthen balance, coordination and confidence through play. You can also [start here](/) to learn how we support every stage of your child's development.

## Trusted sources
CDC developmental milestone guidance on gross motor skills in toddlers; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) on movement and active play; WHO guidance on early childhood physical activity and nurturing care.

**Next step —** Want to help your child run, climb and explore with confidence? [Book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate).

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- CDC — Developmental milestones (gross motor): https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- AAP HealthyChildren.org — Movement and active play: https://www.healthychildren.org
- WHO — Early childhood physical activity guidance: https://www.who.int

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Motor: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/motor
- Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support
- Act: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/act
- Occupational Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/occupational-therapy
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

## Related question paths

### Recognise signs & concerns
- Walking but not running or climbing yet: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-has-not-moved-from-walking-to-running-and-climbing-yet-how-can-i-help
- When do children move from walking to running and climbing?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-do-children-move-from-walking-to-running-and-climbing
- If a child isn't yet running: a caregiver's guide: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-running-skills

### Explore therapy & support
- How can I help my child move from standing with support to walking independently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-help-my-child-move-from-standing-with-support-to-walking-independently
- How do I help my child learn to walk?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-help-my-child-learn-to-walk

### At home & in everyday life
- How to Work on Running and Climbing at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-running-and-climbing-with-my-child-at-home