Toddler Motor Development: From Walking to Running and Beyond
The toddler years are a time of dramatic motor development. Your child goes from taking their first wobbly steps to running, jumping, and climbing with growing confidence. Understanding motor development helps you provide appropriate opportunities for practice and know when to seek help if development seems delayed.
Gross Motor Development by Age AAP
Gross motor skills involve large muscle movements like walking, running, and climbing.
12-18 months: Most toddlers learn to walk during this period. Early walking involves a wide stance, arms held up for balance, and frequent falls. By 18 months, walking is typically steady, and some toddlers are beginning to run.
18-24 months: Walking is confident, and running emerges (though still awkward). Toddlers can walk backwards, climb on furniture, and begin to kick balls. Some can walk up stairs holding a hand or railing.
24-36 months: Running becomes smoother, jumping with both feet emerges, and toddlers can kick balls with more aim. They climb confidently, go up and down stairs with increasing skill, and some learn to pedal tricycles.
Walking Development in Detail CDC
Walking is the signature motor achievement of the toddler years.
When walking starts: Most babies take their first independent steps between 9-15 months, with the average around 12 months. Some babies walk as late as 18 months and are still within normal range.
What early walking looks like: New walkers have a wide stance (feet apart), arms held up for balance, and a wobbly gait. They fall frequently and may crawl when they need to move quickly.
How walking matures: Over months, the stance narrows, arms drop, and gait becomes smoother. By 18 months, most toddlers walk confidently. By 2 years, walking is mature.
Supporting walking development: Let your toddler walk barefoot indoors (better sensory feedback), provide stable furniture for support, and give them opportunities to practice. Avoid walker devices—they can be dangerous and may delay walking.
Running, Jumping, and Beyond AAP
After walking is established, more complex movements develop.
Running (18-30 months): Running typically emerges between 18-24 months but looks stiff and awkward at first. True, smooth running develops closer to age 3. Chasing games encourage running practice.
Jumping (24-36 months): Jumping with both feet off the ground is challenging and typically develops between 2-3 years. Toddlers may first "jump" by stepping off low surfaces before they can jump from standing.
Climbing (18-36 months): Climbing is a passion for most toddlers. They climb on furniture, playground equipment, and stairs. Close supervision is essential as their ambition often exceeds their ability.
Kicking and throwing (18-36 months): Kicking and throwing balls develop gradually. Early kicks just touch the ball; later kicks send it forward. Throwing starts with a downward motion and develops into overhand throwing.
Balancing: Balancing on one foot briefly begins around age 2-3. Walking on tiptoe and walking on a balance beam (with help) are emerging skills at this age.
Fine Motor Development by Age CDC
Fine motor skills involve small muscle movements like those in hands and fingers.
12-18 months: Toddlers can stack 2-3 blocks, turn pages (several at once), put objects in containers, scribble with crayons, and drink from a cup. They use a whole-hand grasp for most activities.
18-24 months: Stacking improves to 4-6 blocks. Toddlers turn pages one at a time, use spoons with more accuracy, and make more purposeful marks with crayons. They begin to show hand preference.
24-36 months: Toddlers can stack 6+ blocks, string large beads, cut with scissors (with help), and draw circles and some lines. They dress themselves with help and use utensils more skillfully.
Self-Care Skills Development AAP
Motor development supports growing independence in self-care.
Feeding: Toddlers progress from assisted feeding to using spoons, then forks, with increasing accuracy. By age 3, most can feed themselves independently, though messiness continues.
Drinking: The transition from bottles to sippy cups to open cups happens during the toddler years. Most 2-3 year olds can drink from an open cup with minimal spilling.
Dressing: Toddlers can cooperate with dressing (pushing arms through sleeves) by 18 months and begin taking off easy items (socks, hats). By 3, many can dress themselves with help for difficult items.
Hand washing: With help and step stools, toddlers can learn to wash and dry their hands, an important skill for hygiene and preschool readiness.
Toilet training: The motor skills for toilet training (walking to bathroom, pulling down pants, sitting, wiping) develop during the toddler years, though readiness varies.
How to Support Motor Development CDC
Provide opportunities for movement: Toddlers need space to walk, run, climb, and play. Both indoor and outdoor active play are important.
Limit container time: Time in strollers, high chairs, and car seats is necessary, but toddlers also need free movement.
Provide appropriate toys: Balls, push toys, ride-on toys, climbing structures, blocks, crayons, and play dough all support motor development.
Allow safe risk-taking: Climbing, running, and jumping involve some risk. Supervised risk-taking builds physical skills and confidence.
Model and encourage: Show your toddler how to kick a ball, climb stairs, or build with blocks. Encouragement builds confidence.
Let them struggle: When your toddler is trying to climb up or stack blocks, resist the urge to immediately help. Some struggle builds persistence and skill.
Stay patient with messiness: Self-feeding and dressing involve mess. Allow practice even though it's not efficient.
Common Motor Development Concerns AAP
Toe walking: Some toe walking is common when toddlers first walk. If toe walking persists after several months of walking or is the only way your toddler walks, mention it to your pediatrician.
W-sitting: Some toddlers prefer sitting with legs in a W position. Occasional W-sitting is fine, but if it's the only way your child sits, encourage other positions.
Falling frequently: All toddlers fall! Frequent falling is concerning only if it's more than typical for their developmental stage or accompanied by other concerns.
Preferring one hand very early: Hand preference typically develops between ages 2-4. Strong preference before 18 months or complete neglect of one hand warrants evaluation.
Delayed walking: If your child isn't walking by 18 months, discuss it with your pediatrician.
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician CDC
Consult your doctor if your toddler:
- Isn't walking by 18 months
- Walks only on toes
- Can't climb stairs with help by age 2
- Falls much more than other children their age
- Has very stiff or very floppy muscles
- Shows very different skills on one side of the body
- Has lost motor skills they previously had
Early intervention for motor delays is very effective.
The Bottom Line
Motor development during the toddler years is remarkable—from first steps to running, jumping, and climbing. Your role is to provide safe opportunities for movement, encourage physical play, and celebrate your toddler's growing abilities.
Clara is here to answer questions about your toddler's motor development!