--- title: Crawling Down Stairs description: Crawling down stairs can often be hard to teach. Why? Because when you are teaching going up stairs you can place a toy in front and they are motivated to try to get that toy. Going down stairs, if you put a toy at the bottom, they will often want to turn to look at […] --- [Try Alphabet Yoga Cards for Free >>](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/download/free-yoga) - [650-638-9142](tel:650-638-9142) - [admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:{{item.email}}) - [Contact Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us) - Get Started - [Plan of Care Evaluation](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/plan-of-care) - [Telehealth Consult](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth) - [New Patient Forms](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/intake-form) [![StarfishLogo@2x](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png?width=544&height=112&name=StarfishLogo@2x.png "StarfishLogo@2x")](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/) - [Therapy Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services) Show submenu for Therapy Services - [Physical Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/physical-therapy) - [Occupational Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/occupational-therapy) - [Motor Smart Kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/motor-smart-kids) - [Gross Motor Program](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/gross-motor-program) - For Parents Show submenu for For Parents - [Free Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources) - [Blog & Articles](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog) - [Shop Games & Tools](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/shop) - [FAQs](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/faq) - [Free Yoga Cards](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/resource/alphabet-yoga-cards) - [About Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/about-us) Show submenu for About Us - [Our Team](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team) - [Our Mission & Values](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/mission-values) - [Why Choose Us?](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team#why) [Contact Click to Contact](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us) Close - [Therapy Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services) Show submenu for Therapy Services - [Physical Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/physical-therapy) - [Occupational Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/occupational-therapy) - [Motor Smart Kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/motor-smart-kids) - [Gross Motor Program](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/gross-motor-program) - For Parents Show submenu for For Parents - [Free Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources) - [Blog & Articles](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog) - [Shop Games & Tools](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/shop) - [FAQs](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/faq) - [Free Yoga Cards](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/resource/alphabet-yoga-cards) - [About Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/about-us) Show submenu for About Us - [Our Team](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team) - [Our Mission & Values](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/mission-values) - [Why Choose Us?](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team#why) - [Contact Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us) - Get Started - [Plan of Care Evaluation](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/plan-of-care) - [Telehealth Consult](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth) - [New Patient Forms](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/intake-form) - [650-638-9142](tel:650-638-9142) - [admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:{{item.email}}) [Contact](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. [< See All Posts](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog) [exercise](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/exercise), [kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/kids), [Developmental Milestones](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/developmental-milestones), [education](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/education), [Starfish Therapies](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/starfish-therapies), [Blog](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/blog), [moms](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/moms) --- # Crawling Down Stairs ![default-image](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Starfish/images/custom-images/default-image.svg) ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Crawling down stairs can often be hard to teach. Why? Because when you are teaching [going up stairs](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/crawling-up-stairs/) you can place a toy in front and they are motivated to try to get that toy. Going down stairs, if you put a toy at the bottom, they will often want to turn to look at the toy and then try to go down head first instead of feet first! How do we recommend working on this? We recommend starting on the couch and bed and any other surface that is off the ground early on. Pick a consistent phrase like ‘feet first’ or ‘on your belly’ and help them get into the position and then guide them down. As you practice this start to let them initiate to see what they will do and then correct if/when you notice they are trying to go a different way. This way they get a chance to practice trial and error. Stay close by in case they lose their balance or move too quick (if they do this, put them back up and take them through it the correct way). We need to give them a chance to make adjustments based on the feedback their bodies are getting. As they get better at this you can start with 1-2 steps going down. Use the same cues and you can even just take them completely through the motion. Sometimes I have them slide down on their belly with me pulling at their legs. This lets them see that they can get down that way and what they want is at the end. Also use the same consistent phrase. As they get more comfortable bring them up more stairs and try again. Repetition and consistency are the keys to mastering skills! [![Share on facebook](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/facebook-icon.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/07/crawling-down-stairs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on twitter](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/twitter-icon.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/07/crawling-down-stairs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/07/crawling-down-stairs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on instagram](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/instagram-icon.svg)](http://www.instagram.com/share.php?u=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/07/crawling-down-stairs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram) [![Share on linkedin](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/linkedin-icon.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/07/crawling-down-stairs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on pinterest](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/pinterest-icon.svg)](https://in.pinterest.com) [![Share on whatsapp](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/whatsapp-icon.svg)](https://web.whatsapp.com) [Previous Post](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/07/crawling-up-stairs) [Next Post](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/08/coordination-round-up) ### Book Your Telehealth Consult Now Get Expert Pediatric Therapy Advice from the Comfort of Home! One-hour personalized consultation with licensed pediatric therapists. No insurance required. [Book Now Click to Book Now](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth) [![Starfish Therapies Logo - Pediatric Therapy Making a Difference in a San Francisco](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png?width=200&height=41&name=StarfishLogo@2x.png "Starfish Therapies Logo - Pediatric Therapy Making a Difference in a San Francisco")](https://www.starfishtherapies.com) Helping Kids Shine Brighter Every Day Starfish Therapies provides pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy services designed to support every child's unique developmental journey. Whether in-person or through telehealth, our expert therapists work hand-in-hand with families to build skills, confidence, and independence in a fun, nurturing environment. Serving children of all ages in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/StarfishTherapies/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/starfishtherapies/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/MotorSmartKids) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.linkedin.com/company/starfish-therapies) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/c/StarfishTherapies) ##### Quick Links - [Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services) - [Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources) - [Policies](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/policies) ##### Information [1601 Old Bayshore Highway #221 Burlingame, CA 94010](https://goo.gl/maps/iW2CLPDxUwm) [Phone: (650) 638-9142](tel:6506389142) Fax: (650) 638-9141 [Text: (650) 413-9921](mailto:admin@starfishtherapies.com) [admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:admin@starfishtherapies.com) Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Stacy Menz", "url" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/author/stacy-menz" }, "dateModified" : "2025-05-14T02:46:38.726Z", "datePublished" : "2020-07-27T14:56:45.000Z", "headline" : "Crawling Down Stairs", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/07/crawling-down-stairs", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png" }, "name" : "Starfish Therapies" } } ```