Squatting to play: how the skill grows from 12 to 24 months
Squatting to play means bending into a squat to pick something up or play at ground level, then standing again without a hand. It builds leg strength and balance and opens up the world at floor height.
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Squatting to play: 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: Squats and sits. Bends toward a toy but ends up sitting down to grab it.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Squat-and-Pop · 12–24 months · 3–8 min
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
- Long Stick, Short Stick · 24–34 months · 8–15 min
Next step: Squats and rises. Squats to pick something up and stands again without any support.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Squat-and-Pop · 12–24 months · 3–8 min
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
- Long Stick, Short Stick · 24–34 months · 8–15 min
Next step: Plays in a squat. Stays crouched for a little while to dig, push a car or watch a bug.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Squat-and-Pop · 12–24 months · 3–8 min
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
- Long Stick, Short Stick · 24–34 months · 8–15 min
Next step: Squats on the move. Picks up leaves or stones while walking along, without stopping to sit.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Squat-and-Pop · 12–24 months · 3–8 min
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
- Long Stick, Short Stick · 24–34 months · 8–15 min
Top of the ladder (squats on the move). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Bubble Squat-and-Pop · 12–24 months · 3–8 min
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
- Long Stick, Short Stick · 24–34 months · 8–15 min
The squatting to play ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 24 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Bends while holding on
Leans down to a toy with one hand still on the sofa or the floor.
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Squats and sits
Bends toward a toy but ends up sitting down to grab it.
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Squats and rises
Squats to pick something up and stands again without any support.
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Plays in a squat
Stays crouched for a little while to dig, push a car or watch a bug.
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Squats on the move
Picks up leaves or stones while walking along, without stopping to sit.
When squatting to play usually shows up
Squatting is not listed on its own in CDC's checklists, though it usually shows up soon after independent walking. Many toddlers squat to pick up a toy and stand back up without holding on during the second year; staying in a squat to dig or play comes with practice.
This page follows squatting to play from 12 to 24 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month and 24-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 3 activities practise squatting to play (2 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 34 months. One of them needs no prep and takes 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3 and 5 of the 5-step ladder.
Activities that practise squatting to play
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 2 gross motor and 1 early concepts. Quickest to start: Bubble Squat-and-Pop (3–8 minutes).
Step 2: Squats and sits
Step 3: Squats and rises
Step 5: Squats on the move
Skills practised alongside
The activities for squatting to play most often also work on pointing to ask (1), size words (1), sorting (1), tidying up (1) and walking on their own (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Scatter a few soft balls on the floor and ask your child to fill a bucket with them.
- Outside, collect leaves, sticks and pinecones together; squatting comes naturally there.
- Set some toys out on the floor rather than always on a table or high chair tray.
What to avoid
- Handing every dropped toy back up; reaching down to the floor is the practice.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If your child still cannot get down to the floor and back up without holding on several months after walking alone, or tires unusually fast in active play, mention it to the pediatrician.
Worried about squatting to play 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 squatting to play?
Squatting is not listed on its own in CDC's checklists, though it usually shows up soon after independent walking. Many toddlers squat to pick up a toy and stand back up without holding on during the second year; staying in a squat to dig or play comes with practice. The first step to look for: leans down to a toy with one hand still on the sofa or the floor.
How can I help my toddler with squatting to play?
Scatter a few soft balls on the floor and ask your child to fill a bucket with them. Outside, collect leaves, sticks and pinecones together; squatting comes naturally there. A good first activity is Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk (13–20 months).
What should I avoid when practising squatting to play?
Handing every dropped toy back up; reaching down to the floor is the practice.
When should I mention squatting to play to the pediatrician?
If your child still cannot get down to the floor and back up without holding on several months after walking alone, or tires unusually fast in active play, mention it to the pediatrician. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.