Monster Walk

What you need

• a few cushions or pillows
• a hat, or a scarf laid over the shoulders

How to do it

1. Pop a hat on your toddler, or lay a scarf over their shoulders as a monster cape, short enough not to trail and never tied round their neck, and let them pull it straight.
2. Lay a few cushions in a wobbly path across a rug or carpet, away from furniture corners.
3. Stomp along the path like a big friendly monster, arms up, with a soft growl.
4. Hold your toddler's hand and stomp the path together.
5. Stop at the end, stretch up tall and give a big monster growl together.
6. Turn round and stomp back, as loud or as soft as they like.
7. Hats off at the end: let them pull the hat or cape off and pop it back in the dressing-up box.

Why it matters

Stepping across soft, uneven cushions makes their legs and tummy work to keep them upright, and being the monster lets them be big and loud on purpose.

What they're learning

Balance

Stepping onto something squashy and off again makes them adjust their footing with every step, the same work as walking on grass or sand.

Big-movement confidence

Stomping and stretching as big as they can lets them feel how much their body can do.

Pretend play

Being a monster for a few minutes is early make-believe, trying on being someone else.

What to look for

Watch for their arms going out or their steps slowing on the squashy cushions. That is them steadying themselves.

A tip

Keep the growl soft and silly, and let them be the monster first if yours makes them unsure.

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