At Mountain Top Explorium, we're always thinking of fun, creative ways to help kids grow and develop essential skills. Our Learning to Walk Sequence is designed to help babies and toddlers develop the foundational movements they need for walking, while keeping them engaged with exciting activities. Here’s a summary of the six challenges in our sequence and why each is important to your child’s development.
1. Rock and Roll
Typical Age Range: 3-5 months
In this challenge, babies practice rolling from their sides to their backs and swatting at toys while on their tummies.
Why it’s important: Rolling helps strengthen core muscles and stimulates the vestibular system, which is essential for developing balance and spatial awareness. Swatting builds arm strength and coordination, laying the groundwork for crawling and walking.
2. Scarves in a Box
Typical Age Range: 6 months
In this activity, babies sit and pull a string of scarves from a box, strengthening their core muscles as they reach and tug.
Why it’s important: The back-and-forth movement improves balance and helps your child learn how to shift their weight, crucial for crawling and eventually standing on their own.
3. De-String the Busy Board
Typical Age Range: 9 months
Babies explore a busy board full of manipulatives, reaching for items at different heights and angles. Strings tied to the features help them notice each one.
Why it’s important: This activity challenges babies to sit, reach, and even stand, working on core strength, balance, and fine motor skills. These movements mimic the early stages of pulling up and standing, key steps toward walking.
4. Wooden Ball Races
Typical Age Range: 12 months
Children place wooden balls on a track and send them rolling into a basket.
Why it’s important: This challenge strengthens fine motor skills as toddlers grip and move the balls, while also improving balance and depth perception as they shift their weight while cruising along furniture.
5. Gymnasts Obstacle Course
Typical Age Range: 18 months
Children help set up and navigate a mini obstacle course, including climbing, crawling, and balancing tasks.
Why it’s important: Obstacle courses build agility, strength, and balance, all of which are vital for developing coordination and muscle control. These challenges also encourage creativity and independence as toddlers navigate the course on their own.
6. Build a Tower
Typical Age Range: 24 months
Using blocks, toddlers build a tall tower, sometimes with the help of a step ladder.
Why it’s important: Balancing on tiptoes and walking up steps challenges toddlers’ balance and weight-shifting abilities. These actions develop their vestibular system and leg muscles, both essential for confident walking and climbing.
Each of these challenges is designed to help your child develop the muscles, coordination, and balance necessary for walking. By focusing on fun and engaging activities, your child will not only gain important motor skills but also build confidence as they grow into more independent movers.
Come on in and Learn to Walk with us!
