As a Rolfer®, trained to observe and support how the body organizes itself, I’ve come to see one of the most beautiful human experiences for what it really is: watching a child learn to walk.
And yet, I don’t believe we should help them do it.
I don’t recommend tummy time, I don’t use contraptions, and I never hold a child’s hand while they’re learning to walk. I’ve spent years watching the effects of early intervention on the body, and I’ve learned this: when we try to speed up the process, we interrupt something we barely understand.
In our culture, there’s this deep belief that babies need constant help, guidance, and stimulation. From the moment they’re born, we’re expected to teach them how to do things. But I’ve seen over and over again how this constant intervention disconnects people from their own body’s wisdom later in life. Adults who don’t trust their movement. Adults who feel off balance. Adults who have no idea how their bodies were meant to function in the first place.
But the human body is brilliant. God designed it with layers of resilience and intelligence we barely recognize anymore.
Learning to walk isn’t about hitting a milestone. It’s about wiring the entire system. When a baby is left on their back, they’ll find the floor with their feet. They’ll feel gravity. They’ll begin to roll. Then they’ll push themselves up, sit on their own, and build the foundation for crawling. From there, they’ll get strong enough to squat, and eventually rise to standing. Walking is the final step, not the first one.
And every single stage matters.
When we help too much, we rob them of the opportunity to wire these steps themselves. We disrupt the sequence. We teach them to rely on us instead of tuning into their own ability to problem-solve and move through frustration.
The struggle is part of the learning. Every tumble teaches balance. Every failed attempt strengthens coordination. When they fall and get back up, they’re building more than muscle. They’re learning that they are capable.
That lesson lasts.
In Rolfing®, we talk about innate wisdom. That’s what this is. The idea that the body knows. That growth comes not from pushing, but from trusting the natural unfolding of development. When we stop controlling every step, we create space for real strength and confidence to emerge.
So if you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, step back. Watch more. Intervene less. Let their body do what it was designed to do.
They don’t need help walking. They need space to discover they already can.
Practical Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Instead of props, propping, or pushing, create safe spaces for movement and exploration. Let your baby spend time on the floor with no expectations. Let them fall without rushing in to fix. Let them build their own path to walking. It’s not just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about what they learn along the way.