Updated October, 2021
When Monster was little, before they were even crawling, a lot of people would ask about walking. I would always say I didn’t want Monster to walk until they were after one. And of course, they would reply with “oh yes, because once they start walking you’re really in trouble”. But that isn’t why I wanted Monster to crawl for awhile. I wanted Monster to crawl longer because it is so important developmentally. In fact, some babies who skip the crawling stage have problems later in life.
Crawling and Development
Crawling and development are closely linked. The crawling stage is an incredibly healthy stage for your child to go through. Not only is it fun, and gives them a safe way to get about, but it helps with things like reading, sports, and eventually, of course, walking.
Reading and Writing
Believe it or not, crawling helps children learn to read and write later in life. They will often start crawling by watching their hands, tracking them back and forth. They have to move the correct body part at the correct time. This all builds practice in their brains of crossing the mid-line.
Additionally, they follow their hands left right, left right. This is the same as they would do to track words across a page. At first they might follow their hands with their whole head, but eventually it will be just the eyes.
The hands and fingers help guide the process of crawling. They are on their hands and knees, primarily. All that pressure and practice helps develop those small motor skills. And what do we use small motor skills for? Writing, of course. And other things, I suppose, like grasping things and even buttoning buttons.
Hand Eye Coordination
Your child won’t watch their hands as they crawl forever. Eventually they will start looking up. But their bodies are still moving as they watch where they are going. This is the same concept in use with sports. Watch the ball with you eye but continue to move your body. Crawling is great practice for hand eye coordination.
Large Motor Skills
Crawling also requires use of the whole body. The large motor movements of the arms, legs, head, and whole body, moving together, is great practice. This well help your child walk, run, and jump. Building the muscles to do all of these things before they need to can help set a child up for success.
Encouraging Crawling
The best way to ensure your child crawls before walking is to provide lots of enticing, fun tummy time. Hang out with them, talk with them, put things just out of their reach. I also discourage “practice walking” with children before they are crawling because this can encourage them to skip crawling or become more frustrated. Most of all, get on the floor with them.
A common “toy” I tend to recommend people avoid are any upright walker toys. This includes both the type they sit in and cruise around as well as the ones where they pull up on and push them. Beyond being dangerous and encouraging early walking, they also aren’t necessary. When your baby is physically and mentally ready to walk, they will. Until then, it’s better to have them practice walking on safe, stationary objects and crawling for longer distances.
But My Child's Already Walking!
If your child skipped crawling completely and is having problems with some of those skills such as writing and reading it isn’t too late to go back. Making games and getting down to crawl around can be a fun, easy way to build those early skills. Plus, if reading or writing have become a point of contention, your child doesn’t even have to know that crawling has an ulterior motive.
Depending on the age of your child, encouraging them to get down on the ground and crawl should be easy if you just make a game of it. Move like different animals, play Simon says, or even set up an obstacle course.
I Need More Support
If you feel like you would like extra support, either around crawling or anything else, contact me at freedominsidethebox@gmail.com for my Early Childhood Consulting services. Or go to my page and book a free consultation whenever it works well for you.
I never knew this–very interesting!