At what age should a little man take his first independent step? Many mothers, especially those who are raising their first child, find this question extremely important. The sooner this happens, the more reasons for pride, and if such a significant moment for some reason is delayed, inexperienced parents tend to worry and upset. Elena Shuvarina, educational psychologist, head of the Center for Development for Children and Parents “House of Joy”, advises not to rush things: “Do not take as a reference the frames read somewhere: how and when your child should start walking. And of course, put a filter on the conversations of other moms about how their children are developed and how early they started to walk. ” The main criterion for determining the time of the first step is … the baby himself. Yes Yes! There are no general norms, rules and terms that simply do not exist, because every child is unique and each has its own pace of development. “There is no need to teach a child to walk. Just create a favorable environment, and the child will tell you when he is ready for a new stage of life, ”our consultant recommends.
Of course, many parents are also wondering whether it is worth buying various devices that are designed to help a child start walking? Elena Shuvarina believes that the choice of such “devices” should be approached very thoughtfully and not rushed to buy: “For example, the question of using a walker remains open. Many scientists believe that walkers do not stimulate, but inhibit the development of a child: they have a bad effect on the development of the muscular corset, the vestibular apparatus, and give an incorrect idea of the position of the body in space. “
So how can we, parents, help our baby, who will soon take his first steps on this earth? Elena is sure that it is very useful to encourage active crawling, because this is an excellent exercise for the physical development of young children.
And one more important point: before a child learns to walk, he, of course, will fall more than once or twice. Do not make tragedies out of the falls, advises Elena Shuvarina: “They cannot be avoided, and your fear and worries will immediately be passed on to the child, and he will simply be afraid to walk on his own. Believe in your children and be happy, because only a happy person can make their children happy! “
Even more good advice from Elena Shuvarina on the site