PERTH · FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE
Toe Walking in Children
Toe walking is when a child walks on the balls of their feet or their tiptoes instead of heel to toe, and it is common in toddlers who are still learning to walk. It is worth looking into when it carries on past the toddler years or happens most of the time, and worth a visit to your GP or paediatrician if your child has tight calves or cannot stand flat footed.
Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner · Brain Gym® Consultant · Qualified primary school teacher · Mum of three
I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner and Brain Gym® Consultant in Perth, and toe walking is something I see often alongside other signs of retained reflexes.
Please check in with your GP first
Toe walking can have a range of causes, some of which need a medical opinion. If your child toe walks most of the time, has tight calves, cannot stand flat footed, or you have any concerns, please see your GP or paediatrician. My work is movement based and sits alongside medical care, not instead of it.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
What toe walking can look like at home
Walking or running on tiptoes most of the time
Poor balance, tripping or clumsiness
Sensitivity to the feel of the ground, shoes or socks
Other signs like W sitting, trouble sitting still, or difficulty with coordination
The link to primitive reflexes
In my work I often find toe walking alongside retained primitive reflexes, including the TLR (tonic labyrinthine reflex), which is linked to balance and muscle tone, and the spinal galant reflex. When these are still active, the body can find it harder to feel stable and grounded, and walking on the toes can be one way it compensates.
Challenges I see with an unintegrated TLR include weak neck muscles, a tendency to motion sickness, a poor sense of balance, losing balance on stairs, and toe walking.
AT HOME
Gentle movement ideas for toe walking at home
- Barefoot play on different surfaces: grass, sand, carpet
- Animal walks like bear walks and crab walks, and heel walking games
- Crawling and climbing, which build whole-body strength and coordination
- Balance play: stepping stones, low beams, and one-leg games
WORKING WITH ME
How I can help
In an initial appointment I assess which reflexes are still active, as well as balance, coordination and side dominance. From there we build a plan of simple movements for weekly sessions and home play. Positive results are usually seen after 5 or 6 weeks. See the full process and prices on my services page.
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Related challenges
Coordination, balance and clumsiness: These challenges are not laziness or a lack of trying. Often, a child’s body is working much harder than it looks, making everyday activities more tiring and frustrating than they should be.
Spinal galant reflex: If this reflex remains active, it may contribute to difficulties with body awareness and sensory processing.
Primitive reflexes: Primitive reflexes are one piece of the developmental puzzle. In some children, ongoing reflex activity may contribute to difficulties with balance, coordination, handwriting, posture, body awareness or emotional regulation.
QUESTIONS
Common questions
Will my child grow out of toe walking?
Many toddlers do. If it continues past the early years, or happens most of the time, it is worth getting checked by your GP and looking at whether retained reflexes are involved.
Is toe walking linked to ADHD?
Parents often ask this. Toe walking on its own does not mean a child has ADHD. Some children with ADHD do toe walk, and I look at what is happening in the body rather than a label.
Is toe walking linked to autism?
It is a common question. Toe walking on its own is not a sign of autism. Some children with a diagnosis do toe walk, as do many children without one. What matters is what is happening in the body, and that is what I look at.
How many sessions does it take?
Every child is different. Positive changes are usually seen after 5 or 6 weeks of sessions and home play, and I re-assess at the 5 week mark to track progress. Clients usually see me for 6 to 8 weeks on average, depending on what we are working on, and around 10 to 12 weeks for children with a diagnosis where we are working on more complex symptoms.
Where do you see children?
I see children face to face in my home office in Perth, which creates a safe and comfortable environment, and I also offer online appointments.
Is there research behind it?
Yes. Primitive reflex integration exercises are researched for their effect on childhood motor and neurological patterns. See the research.
Not sure where to start?
You are welcome to get in touch for a free phone chat about what you are noticing in your child.