Balancing: how the skill grows from 14 to 36 months
Balancing means staying steady on narrow, uneven or soft surfaces, and on one foot for a moment. Balance sits underneath walking, kicking, climbing and running.
Updated
Balancing: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Uneven ground. Walks on grass, a slope or a soft mattress without falling.
Activities that fit this step
- Towel Speed-Bump Walk · 14–22 months · 4–10 min
- Hoop Island In and Out · 18–28 months · 5–12 min
- Bubble Chase on the Grass · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
Next step: Steps over things. Lifts a foot over a rolled towel or a toy in the way.
Activities that fit this step
- Hoop Island In and Out · 18–28 months · 5–12 min
- Bubble Chase on the Grass · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Kick into the Box Goal · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
Next step: Walks a line. Walks along a tape line or low curb, holding a hand at first.
Activities that fit this step
- Kick into the Box Goal · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Curb Step-Ups on Walks · 20–30 months · 3–10 min
- Tape-Line Tightrope Walk · 20–30 months · 3–8 min
Next step: One foot. Lifts one foot briefly like a flamingo, or long enough to kick.
Activities that fit this step
- Tape-Line Tightrope Walk · 20–30 months · 3–8 min
- Cushion Stepping Stones · 24–32 months · 5–10 min
- Slow-Motion Animal Walk · 26–36 months · 3–8 min
Top of the ladder (one foot). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Cushion Stepping Stones · 24–32 months · 5–10 min
- Slow-Motion Animal Walk · 26–36 months · 3–8 min
- Tape-Road Ball Dribble · 26–36 months · 5–12 min
The balancing ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 14 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Steady on flat ground
Walks across the room and stops without wobbling over.
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Uneven ground
Walks on grass, a slope or a soft mattress without falling.
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Steps over things
Lifts a foot over a rolled towel or a toy in the way.
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Walks a line
Walks along a tape line or low curb, holding a hand at first.
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One foot
Lifts one foot briefly like a flamingo, or long enough to kick.
When balancing usually shows up
Balance is not a separate CDC checklist item; it shows up inside the walking, running and kicking milestones. Walking along a tape line or a low curb with a hand held is common in the third year, while standing on one foot alone for more than a second or two often comes around or after age 3.
This page follows balancing from 14 to 36 months, a window that spans the 15-month, 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 9 activities practise balancing (3 as their main skill), for ages 14 to 36 months. 2 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the 5-step ladder.
Activities that practise balancing
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 8 gross motor and 1 early concepts. Quickest to start: Slow-Motion Animal Walk (3–8 minutes).
Step 1: Steady on flat ground
Step 2: Uneven ground
Step 3: Steps over things
Skills practised alongside
The activities for balancing most often also work on kicking a ball (2), simple pretend play (2), walking on their own (2), imitating actions (1) and jumping (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Make a winding tape path on the floor and walk it together.
- On walks, hold hands along low curbs, logs and garden edges.
- Play slow-motion animal walks: tiptoe like a cat, giant steps like an elephant.
What to avoid
- Balance games on raised beams or walls; keep balance practice at ground level.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
Some wobbling is expected. Mention it if your child falls much more often than peers, is not walking steadily by 18 months, or loses balance they used to have.
Worried about balancing between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start balancing?
Balance is not a separate CDC checklist item; it shows up inside the walking, running and kicking milestones. Walking along a tape line or a low curb with a hand held is common in the third year, while standing on one foot alone for more than a second or two often comes around or after age 3. The first step to look for: walks across the room and stops without wobbling over.
How can I help my toddler with balancing?
Make a winding tape path on the floor and walk it together. On walks, hold hands along low curbs, logs and garden edges. A good first activity is Towel Speed-Bump Walk (14–22 months).
What should I avoid when practising balancing?
Balance games on raised beams or walls; keep balance practice at ground level.
When should I mention balancing to the pediatrician?
Some wobbling is expected. Mention it if your child falls much more often than peers, is not walking steadily by 18 months, or loses balance they used to have. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.