Toe walking can be due to a number of underlying reasons. Determining the cause of the toe walking can help to find the best way to address it. That being said, some children have “idiopathic” toe walking that is just their preferred gait pattern. As always, I recommend that you consult with an occupational therapist (OT) and/or a physical therapist (PT) if you are concerned with your child’s gait and walking habits. These professionals can assess potential neurological and muscle tone related causes and provide information on treatment. Below are a few general tips!
Stretch
Children may present with ankle/calf tightness. You want to make sure the child has full range in their ankle. Consider activities that promote stretching in this area.
- Do an activity standing on an incline with heels down
- Drop your heels off the end of a step
- Manual heel cord and hamstring stretches
- Play in a squatting position [heels on the ground]
- Yoga – downward dog
Strengthen
Improve intrinsic foot muscle strength, leg strength and balance may all result in improved toe walking. Activities that specifically target improved dorsiflexion of the foot [pointing the toes upward] is helpful.
- Games seated on a scooter board [using feet to move]
- Picking up tissues or scarves with toes
- Animal Walks: duck walks [on heels] or bear walks [hands and feet on ground]
- Single leg balance challenges
- Balance on an unstable surface [like the bosu ball pictured above]
Sensory
Children may walk on their toes to avoid sensory input on their feet. Exposure to different textures and tactile sensations [not only on the feet!] can improve tactile sensitivity.
- Sensory bins & messy play
- Textured stepping stones
- Barefoot play in grass, sand, pavement, etc.
- Shaving cream ice skating
Make sure to check in with your OT or PT to get more specific suggestions for toe walking! I hope these activities are helpful and enjoyable for your kiddo if you are looking to stretch, strength or improve sensory regulation related to toe walking!
