Side Stepping

Stand the child on the floor facing the couch. Bring the child’s arms forward and place the child’s hands on the couch cushions for support. Sit on the floor behind the child, and place your hands on the child’s hips. Slowly and gently move the child’s hips sideways until the child has body weight mostly on one leg. Then have the child to step sideways with the free leg, and allow the child to move hips to bring the body weight over that leg. Have the child then step sideways with the other leg to bring the legs together again.  

Encourage:

Head and body upright and straight, feet flat on the floor, and arms forward and hands on top of couch cushions. 

Avoid:

Legs too far apart, crossed, or too close together.