Won’t Walk with a Push Toy? Try This First 👶🏻🧸 | Pediatric PT #49

👋🏽 Hi, I’m Amy Sturkey, a retired pediatric physical therapist with over 35 years of experience. Push toys can be helpful—but they can also be scary at first. In this video, I talk through how I introduce them safely and then try them with my co-instructor, Ilya 👶🏻. 👶🏻 Meet Ilya Ilya is 1 year and 1 month old and was born one month premature, so his development is best compared to that of a 12-month-old. In his early months, Ilya experienced several medical and feeding challenges, including torticollis, plagiocephaly, GERD, feeding difficulties, and failure to thrive. As feeding improved, his overall strength and motor development became more consistent—showing how closely nutrition, growth, and movement are connected 🧠💪🏽. Currently, Ilya is: • Crawling independently • Getting into sitting on his own • Walking with two hands held (not yet with one hand held) Recently, he received a push toy—but right now, he is afraid of it. That’s actually very common. When push toys roll too quickly, they can get away from a child, leading to falls. After just one or two of those experiences, many children become hesitant or refuse to use them altogether. 🎯 What We Work On In this session, I demonstrate two early approaches to supported walking: • Using a stable object (a child-sized chair) that does not roll • Trying a rolling push toy with support I also discuss ways to make push toys safer and easier: • Choosing visually simple toys (less distraction) • Using higher support surfaces for better balance • Practicing on carpet for added friction • Slowing wheels with string or twine • Adding weight so the toy doesn’t roll away Then, I help Ilya take steps by assisting his hands and guiding the movement. Right now, this is simply an introduction—helping him begin to tolerate and explore the activity without fear. This activity helps build: • Confidence with supported walking 👶🏽👶🏾👶🏿 • Forward weight shifting • Early balance reactions • Coordination during stepping ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 0:08 Meet Ilya 0:16 Why push toys can be scary 0:23 Choosing a good push toy 0:42 Height and support considerations 0:53 Surface differences 1:11 Why toys roll away 1:22 How to slow the wheels 1:36 Adding weight 1:52 Using non-rolling objects 2:11 Trying with Ilya 2:29 Standing and attempts 2:53 Assisted walking 3:17 How I helped him succeed 3:40 Early starting point 3:45 Using motivation 3:53 Wrap-up 🔔 Be sure to subscribe for more pediatric physical therapy videos. 📺 Watch all of Ilya’s videos here (playlist): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjOe_0TzQ-5tHANgHjeBzjui ⚠️ Important Note These videos are educational and are not a substitute for in-person therapy. It would be unethical to provide specific treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated. 📩 Contact: amysturkey@gmail.com 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises for the Core https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXYZCORE Children’s Books P is for Poop and Pee Accidents https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 A is for Anxiety https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR C is for Cerebral Palsy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP D is for Down Syndrome https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 A is for Autism https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB