The Crawl-Walk Development Journey is a hallmark of human development, representing the transition from crawling to walking and paving the way for independence. It is predicted that most people set their first step within 12 to 18 months of age. They start while fearfully crutching on their parent’s hand and the tables around the corner, and eventually rebel for their first independent walk of life. Same as most things in life, we start off as rookies and become a thing we do subconsciously. 

Science defines it as a basic natural form of locomotion, classified as one of the most fundamental and accessible physical activities, with little conscious effort once learnt. 

A lot has been said about the health benefits of walks and exactly how much of it we should be doing every day to keep the blood flowing. But little has been said about the biological, psychological, and evolutionary intent behind it.

In simple terms, walking is the highlighted milestone mankind reaches, the white line crossed between the phases of infancy (crawling) and next-level independence (walking) while paving the pathway for lifelong exploration and curiosity.

Walking exemplifies biological readiness, encoded observation of surroundings, evolutionary progress, and cognitive and psychological learning of growth. Till perfected walking typically takes 5 to 7 years, this phase constructs the stability, strength, balance, and efficiency of an individual to walk effectively and sustain one’s balance to some degree. However, perfecting one’s walking also depends on underlying medical conditions, muscle development, overall practice, and balance. 

Crawl-Walk development journey is the sequence in which infants initially learn to crawl, progress to walking, and then shy back for some time to crawling, and finally permanently switch to walking. This phase can be broken down into:

1. Crawling 

Timeline: 6–10 months of age

Its Developmental Steps:

• Tummy Time: Strengthens neck, back, and shoulder muscles, preparing for crawling
• Pre-Crawling Movements: infants push themselves backward or rock back and forth on their hands and knees
• Full Crawling: learning to coordinate the arms and legs

2. Crawling to Walking

Timeline: 9–18 months

Its Developmental Steps:

1. Pulling to Stand: infants starting to pull themselves up on furniture in a standing position 
2. Cruising: trying to move sideways while holding on to things for support
3. Standing Without Support: Building balance and confidence
4. First Steps: often short, unsteady, and broad-based to ensure balance
5. Independent Walking: stepping to more confident poses as stability and balance improve

3. Walking to Crawling 

Timeline: after the walking learning phase 

Some of the reasons for the zombie route are:

1. Fatigue: Walking is more physically demanding, so crawling will start to feel easier
2. Safety and Confidence: Crawling offers more stability, especially on uneven surfaces or when navigating obstacles
3. Exploration Preference: initially Crawling is faster for some babies
4. Learning Through Practice: swinging between crawling and walking helps refine motor skills and coordination
5. Temporary Regression: might witness some babies going back to crawling, a phase they have already surpassed

4. Walking

Timeline: 18–24 months

Why do children choose walking?

• Walking becomes more efficient as strength, balance, and coordination improve
• Supports them to multitask, such as carrying toys while walking
• Social and environmental encouragement, endorsing a sense of achievement

In general, crawl-walk is a typical progression human beings go through before permanently stepping into the world of walking. Unlike most animals, humans are unique in their ability to walk long distances efficiently. Supported by the arch in our feet that acts like a spring, helping us to maintain energy and endurance for this lifelong activity. 

There shouldn’t be a reason not to when you are destined to walk this effortlessly. If you are having trouble walking or want to improve your overall endurance, contact us today!

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