Did you know, pulling a toy is a full body workout?

This seemingly simple action requires your toddler to use lots of muscles. To be able to pull a toy, your toddler needs to walk, bend and potentially tug at their toy all at once. Let's look at the big muscles used and work down to the small. 

Core muscles are essential when it comes to pulling a toy as they help correct and maintain balance. 

The body's centre of balance is thrown off when a toy is pulled, and your toddler's core muscles constantly adjust it with each stride they take. 

Core muscles will also work hard if the toy catches on anything and your toddler lowers down to fix the problem. Their core muscles help their body bend to help them get closer to the toy.  

While the core helps keep the body balanced, muscles in the hips, abs and waist work to support the spine as the body shifts from side to side when walking.  

These muscles also engage each time your toddler turns or twists their body when they look round while walking.  

Muscles from the top to the bottom of your toddler’s legs help coordinate movement. 

Your toddler’s hip, thigh and knee muscles help thrust their legs forward. The lower leg muscles in their calves and ankles keep your toddler’s stride going.  

If your toddler squats to rescue the toy, their glute, thigh and knee muscles work hard to keep the body steady and then propel their body back to standing.  

Your toddler’s tiny toe muscles will help keep them balanced.  

When your toddler turns to look at their toy or helps it out of a sticky situation, the muscles in their neck rotate and stretch. 

The neck muscles work each time your toddler looks round, up to the sky or down to the floor during their walk. 

Muscles in the chest stretch when the arm is positioned behind the body.  

Because the arm is basically trailing behind the body when pulling something along, chest muscles stretch in response to the movement in the arm and shoulder. 

The chest muscles stretch further when the toy drags along a rough surface, or when it comes to a stop.  

Your toddler’s shoulder will be positioned further back than usual when pulling a toy. It will work with the arm muscles to help pull the toy along. 

Like with other muscles, if the toy encounters an issue the muscles in the shoulders and arms may have to work a little harder to pull a toy on from being stuck, or to lift it back into position.  

While the toy is being pulled, your toddler will keep hold of the string using their wrists, hands and fingers. The muscles stretch and contract to respond to every movement that their pull-along toy makes. 

The muscles help keep a tight grip on the string to prevent the toy from falling out of their grasp. 

Signals are sent from the eye muscles to help the body maintain balance.  

The vestibular system, which helps maintain balance, works with the visual system to help your toddler know that they are moving, and keeps the body balanced.