At 19 months old, I noticed that my daughter is still not able to run quite yet. When we went to surprise her dad at the airport recently, she sort of waddled into his arms. Though it’s very clear she wants to run (and jump and swing and slide, etc.), we started to wonder more and more, When should she start running? If you’re a parent also in this in-between phase with your toddler and asking yourself the same question, let’s find out more.

Learning to move is hard work for baby! Just as learning to read builds on language skills developed from the moment a baby can hear and interact with you, developing physical literacy begins well before baby’s first steps. Even when a newborn may not appear to be doing much more than sleep, eat, and poop, the seemingly random waving of arms and legs is gradually building the child’s muscle strength and coordination. That’s why it’s so important that we offer babies lots of time to move their bodies freely, unrestrained by car seats, swings, or bouncy chairs.

Up until now, your toddler been the star of the show! They’ve been the solo act in the family circus. How will they possibly accept sharing the stage and the love of the audience? We have a few tips to ease the transition from your toddler being a solo artist to a band member, including loads of things you can do together! As with any transition, two of the key elements to keep in mind are time and patience.