When toddlers first learned to walk, it was a fascinating discovery for them. Being able to move about on their own after so many months of being reliant on prams, carriers, or being carried in your arms was an exciting time. Then the novelty started to wear off, and walking started to seem more like a responsibility to them. When this happens, they usually meet requests to walk with adamant refusals or rubbery legs and insist on being carried.

If your toddler is standing her ground and refusing to walk, you might want to try these helpful hints to get her moving:

If you take your toddler on a walk, try to find ways to make it fun for her. Try counting all of the dogs that you see along your walk or try stepping over all of the cracks in the pavement, for example. You might also be able to distract her by singing songs or stopping occasionally to look at pretty flowers.

If you are walking to the shop to pick up a few groceries, let your toddler help. Give her a copy of the shopping list to carry, but remember to keep an extra list in your pocket in case she loses hers. On the way home, let her carry a small bag filled with lightweight, unbreakable items. Play up her part – tell her that you wouldn’t have been able to get everything home without her help.

Bear in mind that when your legs are as short as your toddler’s, it takes twice as many steps to walk around the block, which means it may take twice as long, too. It also means that she’s going to get tired long before you do. Therefore, you should try to keep treks with your toddler as brief as possible, or plan for frequent rest stops along the way.

If you are just a few blocks from home and your toddler refuses to take another step, try cutting a deal with her. Tell her that if she’ll walk to the next block, you’ll carry her the block after that. Alternate walking and carrying until you are home.

Be sure to congratulate your toddler after she completes a walk, even if it’s a short one. Tell her how grown-up she is becoming now that she doesn’t rely on you to push or carry her everywhere she goes.

Once the excitement of learning how to walk has worn off, many toddlers will decide that they would rather be carried. If your toddler insists on being pushed or carried everywhere, try these simple suggestions. With any luck, you will have her happily walking again in no time.