Just wondering, can a toddler teach itself how to walk upright? Is walking upright something that's build in?

Question

Recently my niece took her first steps. While watching her do just this, I couldn't help but wonder if a toddler could teach itself to walk upright? In other words, is walking on two feet something that's build in, and something all (capable) humans will eventually do?

Answer 1

I just saw an article about a boy caught in russia that was raised by wolves, and he ran around on all fours..so while we all have the capability, i think most of has to do with what the toddler observes everyone else doing, and what she thinks she's supposed to do.

Answer 2

Hello,
I think it could be delayed if a child does not see others doing it. How could one know they can do it if others did not do it before them.
There has been cases of children being raised with animals and one of those kids I remember did not walk upright.
I think if capable a human will eventually will walk upright if the legs will allow them too.
Leg muscles if not worked with will not hold a persons weight. Why when people have injuries they have to go through rehabilitation to walk.
Anyhoo good question

Answer 3

it is an instict. if you watch a baby.. at first they lie there, and you see little movements, fists moving, then toes, before long they learn (usually by complete accident), that if you move too much one way..woops! i just rolled over! and they practice that for a while. then they get tired of their face stuffed in the floor, and start to lift their chin, next thing you know..they're crawling, and up goes the baby gates. they zip and zoom through the house on all fours.

not all babies do that to, some learn to scoot instead..they sit on their bottoms, and scoot all over the house. scoot scoot scoot.

but eventually, they start noticing things further away as their eyesight develops..and being the curious species we are.. we want to know! so they start straining to look up..then the hand comes out to balance themselves..and woops..another mistake..i'm somehow gone from being a 2 legged creatrue to a 4.

so they do this awhile, then they eventually get fidgety and the foot starts to move..woops down on butt..but wasn't that fun! i'm going to do that again!

and before you know it you have a toddler on a tear. and your running behind, either moving the breakables out of the way, or stearing them into the opposite direction.

kids are fun eh?

i'm glad that was 11 years ago..that was exhausting!

Answer 4

When my son was about 8 months old, we watched him walk from the sofa to a chair about 4 ft. away without any help or encouragement. He wasn't holding onto anything at the time, which led me to believe that it's wired into our brains before we're born.

Answer 5

Yes it is, even if adults do not help,a child will in time reach up to something, as the legs get stronger to carry him/her. Once they find out they can stand and walk , soon they are running, and are unstoppable. Oh the fun of growing up.!!!!

Answer 6

Anything's possible.Sometimes babies learn to walk by way of their toddler brother or sisters.Mostly parents help them though.

Answer 7

yes they can eventually. it's this way because of our pelvic bones they way our organs are resting. plus our knees and legs are not built to be on our all fours.

so yes it would just take longer depending on whether or not they are around other people who walk up right or whether they are all alone.

Answer 8

Built in? What are they computerized robots? But to answer your question, they learn by what they see. Yeah they'll eventually be motivated by seeing what their parents and or siblings do.

Answer 9

We are all born with an innate desire to be up on 2 feet. It's built in, as you say.

Answer 10

They learned this through observation, watching mommy/daddy do it. They also saw how much faster it got them moving around as opposed to crawling.

Monkey see, monkey do is a very true statement, you know. :)