7 Strategies to Practice Stair Climbing with Your Child

By: Caitlin Lipscomb, PT, DPT

Practicing going up and down the stairs with your child can be daunting — for one, it can be hard work for your little one, so they may not be the most willing participant when practicing. For two, it can be terrifying as a parent to allow your wobbly, distracted toddler amble up and down a full flight of stairs without help. However, being able to climb the stairs is an extremely important gross motor skill for your child to master in order for them to safely and independently navigate their environment at home, school, and in the community.

According to the CDC, between the ages of 2 and 3 your child should be able to safely go up and down the stairs on his/her feet while holding onto support (whether it be holding onto your hand or the railing). By age 3, most children should be able to alternate their feet on the steps (one foot on each step) without using the rail. Mastering these skills are highly dependent on the age your child mastered previous gross motor skills, so if your child was delayed with walking or has always seemed to struggle with their balance or coordination, stair skills may take longer to master. Keep in mind that consistent practice is the easiest way to master any gross motor skill, but just going up and down the stairs at home a million time is not very motivating for anyone.

So, try the following 7 tips to help get your little one ready for the stairs — you can start these skills as early as 15-18 months, or about 3-6 months after your child has mastered walking.

1. Start with a curb or low stepping stool.

Start with only ONE step that is at a lower height than a normal step can be a great way for your child to gain strength, balance, body awareness, and confidence for a flight of stairs. Curbs and toddler step stools are usually a great place to begin. Start with letting them hold one or both of your hands and gradually work toward reducing your level of assistance.

2. Practice stepping over an obstacle.

Stepping over a low obstacle is a great way to mimic the skill of stair climbing without the added challenge of having to get on/off an actual step. You can use a foam pool noodle, a rolled up blanket/towel, or even a rope tied between two chairs (about 1-2 inches off the ground). Let your child hold your hand until they get the hang of it and then encourage them to step over independently. Practice with either leg leading and gradually increase the height of the obstacle if possible.

3. Practice balancing on one foot.

When a child walks up or down the stairs, they have to be able to balance on one leg in order to bring the opposite leg to the next step. A few ways to try single leg balance include: help your child balance their foot on a small ball or step stool for a few seconds, pretend to stomp like a dinosaur with exaggerated pauses between steps, or pop bubbles with their toes.

4. Master going up before going down.

Most children will master going up the stairs without help before coming down. While going up does require some ability to balance on one foot, it is mostly a skill of leg strength. Going down the steps requires a higher level of balance, muscle control, and even body/spatial awareness. There is also more room for error when coming down — it is easier to recover from a misstep when going up then when coming down. So always focus on mastering the going up part before forcing the coming down part. You can also teach your child to come down the stairs sideways with two hands on the wall/railing to increase their stability.

5. Add a visual cue.

If your child seems to have difficulty judging the height or depth of the steps, try adding a visual cue like brightly colored tape at the edge of the step. You can also place colored spots or stickers in the middle of each step so they know where to place their foot. If your child seems to strongly prefer using one leg to go up or down the steps, try placing a sticker on top of the non-preferred foot to encourage them to use that leg. For example, if your child only goes up the step using their right leg, place a Mickey sticker on the left foot and provide the verbal cue of “step up with Mickey”.

6. Try steps at the playground or park.

Steps within a playground structure are often a smaller height than steps in a home because they are designed with smaller bodies in mind. Furthermore, the stairs at the playground are often significantly more motivating than stairs at home because there is usually a slide or a tunnel waiting at the top! You can also take advantage of practicing going up/down any curbs or other steps you might find at a playground or a park (or really anywhere you might be when out in the community!) Practicing a variety of steps with different heights, depths, number of steps, and types of railings is a great way to improve your child’s strength and confidence with stairs.

7. Above all, make it fun!

Try to keep stair practice at home as enjoyable as possible so that your child does not view it as “work”. You can place puzzle pieces at the bottom of the step and carry each piece one by one to the puzzle board at the top of the steps. Try using a matching game with the pairs split between the top and bottom of the stairs. You can even use food motivators like candy or gummies that are “hidden” every few steps. Be creative and change it up so that your child does not get bored!

Although it is important to help your child achieve age-appropriate developmental milestones like stair climbing, always remember that safety is the most important thing. If you find that your child is very unsafe when practicing a full flight of stairs, it is best to focus on practicing the first few skills listed above in a safe environment and always give them ample help when actually negotiating a full flight of stairs. You can also teach them safer methods to use the stairs such as side stepping with both hands on the railing, crawling up/down on their belly, or scooting down on their bottom. You can always tackle the flight of stairs as they get older and as their balance, strength, and overall safety awareness improve. Always contact a pediatric physical therapist if you have concerns with your child’s ability to navigate stairs.