Guides for Grownups​

Creating a Safe Environment 

Ensuring your baby has a safe environment to practice walking is the first step to building their confidence. Here’s how to create a space to support those crucial first steps. 

You can clear the area of any potential hazards that could trip or distract your baby. Remove small toys, rugs, and any furniture with sharp edges. Be sure to place soft, non-slip mats or carpets in the walking area to cushion any falls and provide a stable surface. 

Encouragement and Praise 

Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator for babies learning to walk. When babies feel supported and cheered on, they are more likely to keep trying and improving their walking skills. Use enthusiastic and supportive language such as “Great job!”, “You’re doing amazing!”, or “Look at you go!”. Combine these phrases with clapping, smiling, and open arms to create a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere.  

Push Toys

Push toys are excellent aids for encouraging babies to take their first steps. They offer essential support, helping babies keep their balance as they take their first steps, plus engaging features, such as sounds, lights, and movement, motivate babies to move and explore.

By incorporating push toys into your baby’s routine, you provide them with various fun and effective ways to practice walking. Creating obstacle courses and interactive games can also help develop their physical abilities whilst making the learning process enjoyable and engaging. We’ve picked out some of our favourite Push & Pull toys for you to explore:

• My First Musical Walker: Helps babies take their first steps in style as they start to walk and hear music playing as they go! With adjustable speeds, the walker also features a drum, xylophone and three spinning blocks for additional musical play.
• Walk Along Puppy: Meet Pepe! A delightful companion that encourages your baby to push it along, promoting walking practice while also developing their sense of responsibility as they “walk” their new pet.
• Tito Pull Along: Tito the turtle is a colourful and playful toy that entices babies to pull along as they walk. This toy helps improve balance and coordination as babies learn to control their movements while keeping Tito rolling smoothly behind them.

Walks in the Park or Favourite Destinations 

Incorporating walking into your baby’s daily routine can help them practice and improve their walking skills naturally. Taking regular strolls in the park offers a safe and spacious environment where your baby can practice walking on different surfaces, like grass and pavement, helping them adapt to various walking conditions. 

Simply by holding your baby’s hand and letting them explore the park at their own pace provides the support they need while giving them the freedom to look around, touch different textures, and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. 

Walking to nearby places instead of always using a stroller can be exciting adventures for your baby, filled with new experiences and opportunities to practice walking. You can even turn these walks into fun and engaging activities. Point out interesting things along the way, like birds, or flowers. Sing songs, play simple games like “I Spy,” and celebrate every small milestone to keep your baby motivated and happy. 

Building confidence in early walkers is crucial for their physical development and overall growth. By creating a safe environment, offering encouragement and praise, and incorporating engaging activities like push toys and obstacle courses, you can support your baby’s journey to taking their first steps. 

We encourage you to try the activities and using Hape push toys can make walking practice fun and effective. These tools and techniques will not only help your baby gain confidence but also turn their walking practice into an enjoyable adventure. 

Don’t forget to share your child’s walking journey with us on social media and tag us @hape_uk.