GM.B.67 WALKS, PUSHING A CART

This is another step towards independent walking. The child is still using a support but the support is totally under her control, and if she doesn’t use it properly, it will not support her unlike Mum’s hands!

 How to Assess

Materials: A solid wooden walking cart – weighted with bricks if necessary – or a solid wooden doll stroller. A flat, low-slip surface.

Method: Stand the child holding the handle of a walking cart and ask her to walk. Score plus if your child can walk forward pushing the cart with sufficient control to stop and balance if it moves too quickly.

How to Teach

If your child has mastered the skills up till now, you should not have to teach this. In this skill your fingers are replaced by the handle of the cart as support. The handle should be just above waist level when arms are held straight and your child is standing upright behind the cart. After mastering GM.A she will be used to you standing behind her when she is walking forward – so now you will need to accustom her to your being at the side and then in front of the cart.

Place her hands gripping the handle of the cart while you kneel at the side of the cart; hold it firmly to prevent it rolling forward. When she is happy standing holding the cart, roll it forward for about 15 cm then stop. It should be sufficiently far forward for her to be slightly uncomfortably off-balance, leaning forward. If she doesn’t automatically step forward, first tell her, then if she still doesn’t step, use your free hand to bend the knee closest to you and place her foot forward.

When she is happy and confident with you moving the cart from the side, for several steps, move to the front of the cart. Moving backwards, on your knees, slowly pull the cart forward for short distances – wait for her to step both feet up, then move it again. Practise on a fairly non-slip surface such as carpet or grass. She is now ready to attempt to control the cart by herself. Weight it with either telephone books or bricks, and start as before on a non-slip surface. Make sure you are close by to stop it moving forward out of control and frightening her.

She may not know how to push the cart because previously she just held the handle and the cart moved. Say ‘Push the cart’ before you help her to move it so that she knows that when you push it, it will move. It will take some practice for her to learn how hard to flush it, so stay close by until she can control it with confidence.

Master one surface first, before you try a different one, as the different surface will mean she will have to relearn her pushing control. One mother learned that her son could push the cart when she saw him flash past the doorway trying to keep up with the cart! He ended up in a crumpled heap at the end of the passageway, but he soon learned not to lean too heavily on the handle.

You can make the skill more meaningful by placing shopping in the trolley, or toys, or baby sister (if you’re game) to take them for a walk.

Your child is bound to have some falls while learning to push the cart – all children do. Try to be there to prevent her hurting herself, but children learn from falling so try to avoid catching her every time.

When buying a cart, look for a wide-based solid-looking cart with a wide dowel handle. If the handle is too high, your child will be tempted to put her mouth on it and chew it, so have her with you when you buy it to make sure that it is the right height. A ‘POD’ brand wooden doll stroller is ideal for early walkers.