Best for this moment
when your toddler needs focused engagement, especially when you need an indoor option.
Step Up Step Down
At a glance: Practise stepping on and off a low step or thick book for balance training. A 7-minute, medium-energy indoor activity for ages 12m–2y. No prep needed.
Find a low, sturdy surface — a thick book, a doorstep, or a yoga block — and let your toddler practise stepping up and stepping back down. This simple movement is genuinely challenging for 12–24 month olds who are still mastering the coordination of lifting one foot while balancing on the other. Repeating it builds confidence, leg strength, and the sense of ‘I can do hard things’ that early walkers crave.
Parent tip
Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.
What success looks like
A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in body awareness.
More help for this situation
Transitions and separation
Transitions
Support the switch from one thing to the next with steadier routines and simple bridges.
Read the transitions guideInstructions
- Find a low, sturdy surface: a thick book on carpet, a doorstep, or a yoga block
- Place it on a non-slip surface
- Stand next to your child and hold one hand
- Say: ‘Step up!’ and help them step onto it
- Pause for balance, then: ‘Step down!’
- Let go of their hand gradually as confidence builds
- Count each step: ‘Up — one! Down — two!’
- Try without hand-holding once they’re ready — stay close to spot them
Why it helps
Stepping up and down develops single-leg balance, which is a prerequisite for stairs, running, and eventually hopping. It strengthens the ankle stabiliser muscles and builds proprioceptive awareness — sensing where your body is in space — that makes all movement more confident and controlled.
Variations
- Line up several low ‘steps’ in a row for a stepping path.
- Hold a favourite toy at the top of a step as motivation.
- Try stepping sideways along a low kerb when outside for a balance challenge.
Safety tips
- Use a step no higher than 10–15cm for this age group.
- Ensure the surface is non-slip — place on a rug or use a book on carpet.
- Hold your child’s hand until they show consistent balance.
When to pause and seek extra support
Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.
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