Learning to go up and down stairs
Introduction
Children often start by crawling up and down stairs rather than walking. A whole flight of stairs is often too much to start with, and practicing only a couple of steps at a time can encourage children to try more often without getting bored or giving up.
Apply a backwards chaining method, this means starting near the end of the task. When going upstairs, start one or two steps from the top, and when going downstairs, start one or two steps from the bottom. Every time you progress the skill so it is a more mature pattern, you may need to go back to only doing one or two steps to start with. E.g. going from walking 2 feet per step to one, or going from holding 2 supports to one.
Rewards: Whenever you get to the top or bottom, give a big cheer, high five or clap! Have something your child really wants in view on the stairs but not in reach to motivate them to keep going.
Sequence going up stairs
- Crawling up a few stairs with assistance.
- Crawling up a few steps alone.
- Crawling up the whole flight of stairs.
- Walking up a few stairs with assistance.
- Walking up a few stairs alone, 2 feet per step.
- Walking up the whole flight of stairs with reducing support e.g. from 2 handrails, 2 feet per step to 1 handrail, 1 foot per step.
- Walking up the whole flight of stairs with minimal support or independently.
Sequence going down stairs
- Tummy sliding or bottom shuffling down a few stairs with assistance.
- Tummy sliding or bottom shuffling down alone.
- Tummy sliding or bottom shuffling down the whole flight of stairs.
- Walking down a few stairs with assistance.
- Walking down a few stairs alone, 2 feet per step.
- Walking down the whole flight of stairs with reducing support e.g. from 2 handrails, 2 feet per step to 1 handrail, 1 foot per step.
- Walking down the whole flight of stairs with minimal support or independently.
Place your child on their hands and knees one or two steps from the top of a flight of stairs.
In this picture, holding your child at the hips, guide their weight to the left side and bring the right foot forwards so the foot is flat.
Keep your hand on the right knee so it stays in position.
Bring their weight over to the right, with a gentle push down through the right knee or foot as you give them a little upwards encouragement at the left hip to stand.
Help them place one hand at a time on to the next step up.
Many babies naturally then put their knee or foot on to the next step up, but help if you need to.
Most babies will start off by leading with the same leg each time, but you can encourage them to practice alternating which leg leads.
Gradually add more steps as your baby becomes more confident until they can crawl up the whole flight.
Your baby will gradually replace putting their knee down by putting their foot on the step, so they are using both hands and both feet to walk up.
Build the skill from near the top of the stairs. Let your baby crawl up as they usually do to two steps from the top.
Would be good to have an image of an adult helping a child walk upstairs. The child’s hands must be below shoulder level.
Stand them on the step and guide the hand that is nearest the wall or stair rail to hold on. Use your hand over theirs so they can feel the wall or rail directly.
With your other hand, hold their free hand so it is in front of them and below shoulder height. Don’t let them lean back on you, and avoid holding both their hands so they are not hanging on you as the support.
Encourage them to step up with one foot (they may prefer to lead up with the same leg each time).
You can help them lean slightly away from the leg that is ready to step up.
As they become more confident, add more stairs, or reduce support. Giving them a toy to hold in one hand whilst they use the rail in the other hand can distract them from having less support.
Ensure you are behind them when going up until they are confident.
Some children may do two feet to a step for a long time before they master being able to step just one foot to a step. You may need to help them practice stepping one foot past the other on to the next step.
Some children will slide down on their bottom, others will prefer to go down on their tummy. See which your child prefers and which they are better at.
Again, start near the bottom of the stairs so your child only has to go down one or two steps to the bottom.
Going down on tummy
Place your child on their tummy, resting on their hands and knees one or two steps from the bottom of the stairs. Their knees should be on one step and their hands on a step that is comfortable for them. Show them how to slide one leg backwards to reach the next step down, then guide them backwards and down until they put their knee down and bring the other leg down too. You may have to help them bend their knee until they learn what to do. Help them bring their hands down a step until they are kneeling or sitting on the floor.
Going down on their bottom
Place your child sitting on their bottom one or two steps from the bottom. Encourage them to put their hands down beside them. Help them slide forwards until their bottom is ready to drop down on to the next step. You may need to hold them around the hips while they learn how to lower themselves down.
Progressing to walking downstairs
Start near the bottom of the stairs. Stand your child on the correct step, and help them hold the rail or the wall. They need to feel the support in their hand, with your hand over the top to guide them. Go backwards in front of them.
Hold their free hand so it is front of them and below their shoulder height. Guide them to step down with one foot at a time. You may need to encourage them to bend their knee to lower down, and switch your support to their hips.
Gradually add more stairs the more confident they get.
