No one is born with the ability to ride a skateboard, surf or even stand on their tiptoes. Unlike other mammals, human beings have no balance at birth – virtually no capacity to walk or even stand. Before that can happen, their vision, hearing, muscles, bones and brain must develop. This takes months, and for some activities, even years.
Infants typically begin rolling over when they’re 6 months old. They generally start to crawl by 9 months, and stand around a year old. By 18 months old, most can walk alone and go up steps. By age 2, toddlers can perform more complex tasks, such as kicking a ball. By 3 years old, most children run well and can walk up and down stairs with one foot on each stair. Some children reach these milestones faster, and some are slower, and that’s normal.
