Running: how the skill grows from 16 to 36 months
Running means moving faster than a walk, with brief moments when both feet are off the ground. Running builds stamina, starting and stopping on purpose, and steering around obstacles. Running, not only walking, is a CDC 24-month milestone. Early running looks like a stiff, hurried walk; smoother corners, swinging arms and stopping on cue improve through the third year.
Updated
Running: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Runs straight. Runs in a line across flat ground and often tumbles at the end.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Chase on the Grass · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Ready-Set-Go Chalk Dash · 19–31 months · 5–12 min
- Shadow Stomp and Wave · 27–36 months · 5–15 min
Next step: Starts and stops. Runs toward a target and stops before bumping into it.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Chase on the Grass · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Ready-Set-Go Chalk Dash · 19–31 months · 5–12 min
- Shadow Stomp and Wave · 27–36 months · 5–15 min
Next step: Steers around things. Runs around a tree or a chair without touching it.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Chase on the Grass · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Ready-Set-Go Chalk Dash · 19–31 months · 5–12 min
- Shadow Stomp and Wave · 27–36 months · 5–15 min
Next step: Runs in games. Chases bubbles or a parent, changing direction on grass.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Chase on the Grass · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Ready-Set-Go Chalk Dash · 19–31 months · 5–12 min
- Shadow Stomp and Wave · 27–36 months · 5–15 min
Top of the ladder (runs in games). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Chase on the Grass · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Ready-Set-Go Chalk Dash · 19–31 months · 5–12 min
- Shadow Stomp and Wave · 27–36 months · 5–15 min
The running ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 16 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Hurried walk
Moves fast with stiff legs and arms held up for balance.
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Runs straight
Runs in a line across flat ground and often tumbles at the end.
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Starts and stops
Runs toward a target and stops before bumping into it.
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Steers around things
Runs around a tree or a chair without touching it.
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Runs in games
Chases bubbles or a parent, changing direction on grass.
When running usually shows up
This page follows running from 16 to 36 months, a window that spans the 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 3 activities practise running (2 as their main skill), for ages 18 to 36 months. Each needs a few minutes of setup. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3 and 4 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 24 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve running. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 24 months | Runs, not only walks. |
Activities that practise running
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 2 gross motor and 1 cognitive. Quickest to start: Bubble Chase on the Grass (5–12 minutes).
Step 2: Runs straight
Step 3: Starts and stops
Step 4: Steers around things
Skills practised alongside
The activities for running most often also work on balancing (1), cause and effect (1), following one-step directions (1), spatial words (1) and taking turns (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Head to open, soft ground such as a lawn or park field for running time.
- Play "ready, set, go!" and "stop!" games to practise stopping on purpose.
- Chase bubbles or a slowly rolling ball together.
What to avoid
- Running on smooth floors in socks, or near steps, sharp corners and roads.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If your child is not running by around 24 months, or falls far more than children the same age, tell the pediatrician; mention too if running seems painful.
Worried about running between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start running?
Running, not only walking, is a CDC 24-month milestone. Early running looks like a stiff, hurried walk; smoother corners, swinging arms and stopping on cue improve through the third year. The first step to look for: moves fast with stiff legs and arms held up for balance.
How can I help my toddler with running?
Head to open, soft ground such as a lawn or park field for running time. Play "ready, set, go!" and "stop!" games to practise stopping on purpose. A good first activity is Bubble Chase on the Grass (18–30 months).
What should I avoid when practising running?
Running on smooth floors in socks, or near steps, sharp corners and roads.
When should I mention running to the pediatrician?
If your child is not running by around 24 months, or falls far more than children the same age, tell the pediatrician; mention too if running seems painful. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.