Sit on the Bottom Step

What you need

• their shoes

How to do it

1. After a quick trip outside, even just to the doorstep, sit your toddler on the bottom step or a low stool as soon as you come in.
2. Check both feet are flat on the floor in front of them.
3. Undo the fastenings and let them pull.
4. Shoes go straight into the basket by the door.

Why it matters

Taking a shoe off while standing is a balance problem as much as a hands problem, so a seat with both feet on the floor removes half the difficulty at a stroke.

What they're learning

Sitting steady

A stable seat frees both hands for the shoe instead of using one to stay upright.

Reaching their own feet

Feet flat on the floor puts the shoe within easy reach of both hands.

Same spot every time

Shoes coming off in one place is the start of them going back on from that place too.

What to look for

Watch for them heading for the step on their own when you come back in.

A tip

Same step, same basket, every time. The routine is doing as much work here as the sitting down is.

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