Encouraging Babies to Walk: Gross Motor Activities for Babies

There are so many firsts during a baby’s first year.  Benjamin is my third little one, and every first of his has seemed to happen so fast!

I promised myself this time I wasn’t going to rush anything.  This time I was going to enjoy every minute.  And while I have, the time has simply flown by once again.

Gross motor activities for babies are tons of fun.  My Benjamin will be one in just a couple of weeks and he is on the very edge of walking.  Encouraging babies to walk can be a tricky thing – especially if they have been crawling for some time.

Benjamin can crawl at the speed of light.  The type of crawl that I truly have to jog to catch him when he is about to investigate something I’d rather him not.  Since he is such a quick crawler, I didn’t think he would show an interest in walking for some time.  But he has.  I blame his older siblings.  Another first is so close for my baby.

I have been doing many gross motor activities for babies with Benjamin.

Here are some of our favourite Gross Motor Activities for Babies that Encourage Walking.

Cruising Along for Treasures:

My Benjamin generally begins standing, takes a step or two, and then bends into a crawl and takes off.  So to prevent the crawling a use this gross motor activity for babies.  I tape ‘treasures’ to the wall with painters tape and he cruises along, reaching up and pulling them off one at a time.  He generally pulls one off, takes his hands off the wall to hold his treasure, examines it for a moment, and then catches sight of his next treasure and cruises along.

This gross motor activity for babies is ideal as it prevents the crawl.  If your wee one is ‘a sitter’ (stand, step, sit) then an activity such as pushing a laundry basket may be more ideal.

Pushing Low Stable Objects

This position encourages wee ones to lean forward as they move along.  As does having Mommy lying on her tummy snapping pictures as you come towards her. (please don’t mind the painters tape on the floor.  We always have painters tape on the floor)

Cruising from Object to Object

Using kitchen chairs to cruise along, or push along, are also great gross motor activities for babies learning to walk.  The chairs can be easily spaced to your wee ones comfort level – either within arms reach, a step or two away, or a bit farther.  Putting a favourite toy (or a favourite big brother) on one of the chairs helps encourage that wee walker!

One of Benjamin’s favourite games right now is to push the kitchen chairs all around the house.  He has become quite adapt!

There are so many gross motor activities for babies that encourage walking.  It is always important to remember to follow your little ones cues.  Trying to encourage your wee one before he or she is ready will result in frustration for the both of you.

Wee ones develop in different areas at different times.  By the time she was 2 my Madeline could speak as if she were an adult – but she never (ever) crawled.  Sammy was running by 12 months, but had only a few words at 2.

Whatever stage your baby is in – there are tons of fun gross motor activities for babies to enjoy!

Remember, if you want to LOVE time with your little ones even more – I HAVE A BOOK FOR THAT!