GM.C.84 WALKS UP STAIRS, HOLDING THE RAIL AND HAND HELD, 2 FEET TO A STEP

Once the child is walking, she can learn to climb stairs on her feet. The one-legged balance required for this skill is important for stable walking.

How to Assess

Materials: A flight of 6 steps with a handrail; the steps should not be higher than the height for the child’s knees – preferably lower. The handrail should be approximately the height of the child’s shoulder.

Method: Hold your child’s hand and place her other hand on the rail. Ask her to step up the stairs. Score plus if your child can walk up 6 stairs, one hand held, one hand on the rail. The child at this stage will be putting both feet on the one step.

How to Teach

Stand the child at the bottom of the stairs and from behind place one hand on the rail (at the side, ahead of her feet); hold your hand over it. Allow her to grasp your other hand. With your third hand (or remove your support from the hand on the rail!) bend the leg on the side away from the rail and place the foot on the step. Place that hand back over her hand on the rail and gently pull her weight forward over the bent leg with the hand you are grasping. Reward her attempt with ‘Good girl, you stepped up’, and then repeat the movement.

When she starts to co-operate with the movement, lean her weight forward and wait for her to bend her leg up to place fist one foot on the step and then the other. Slide her hand further up the rail and lean her forward again with the grasped hand.

The next step is to allow her to more her own hand on the rail. This hand needs to be kept in front of her feet. Initially she will forget her hand and step ahead of it. Remind her by tapping her hand and telling her to ‘Move your hand’. Practise alternating the hand holding onto the rail.

Always keep her weight well forward over her feet and remember to keep the hand on the rail in front of her feet at all times.