Topic Overview
Learning to walk is the defining athletic accomplishment
for children between 12 and 24 months of age. Those first steps are possible
because of changes taking place within the brain and the spinal cord.
Coordination and muscle control advance as the brain grows and matures.
Most children start walking by 13 months of age. The usual range for
starting to walk is any time between 9 and 15 months.
When your
toddler reaches a developmental milestone, such as walking, it means he or she
has mastered the physical and cognitive skills needed to advance to another
skill. For example, about 6 months after your child has learned to walk with
ease, he or she will likely be able to run. Most toddlers also learn the basics
of climbing, kicking, and throwing.
Also during the second year,
children gain more control and coordination over the many small muscles in
their hands, fingers, and wrists. These fine-motor skills enable your child to
begin drawing with crayons, eating with a spoon, and manipulating small
items.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerSusan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical ReviewerLouis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics