Chalking and walking – play as a way to practise stepping movements

What you need 

• Chalk or masking tape 

What to do 

1. Tape or chalk a line on the floor. 
2. Invite your toddler to stand on one side of the line, facing sideways with their foot parallel to it. 
3. Encourage your toddler to step sideways across the line, lifting their foot closest to it up high. When your toddler lifts their foot up high they use the same action as they would when stepping onto a bike or ride-on toy. 
4. When they are steady and balanced, invite your toddler to step back over again, using the other leg to lead the step over. 
5. Repeat this several times so that your toddler can get the hang of it. You can make it into a game by seeing how many times they can do it, or placing a toy on the other side for them to get to.
6. If they enjoy this game, you can add to the challenge by placing an item, like a soft toy or pillow, on the line for them to step over.

Good to know 

For your toddler to be able to climb on to a ride-on toy, or any other piece of equipment, they need to coordinate movements in both legs, as well as keep their balance and focus on where they are going. Practising each of these skills separately, like the leg movements here, will make it easier for your toddler to combine them when they need to achieve a goal.