At fourteen months, walking is becoming your toddler's default mode of getting around. The wide, arms-high stance is starting to narrow, and you may notice they are walking faster, turning corners, and beginning to show interest in climbing onto low surfaces like couch cushions on the floor. Their confidence is growing faster than their coordination, which makes this both an exciting and bumpy stage. These activities channel that new mobility into strength and skill.
7 Gross Motor Activities for 14-Month-Olds
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Pillow path walking. Lay a trail of firm pillows on the floor and encourage your toddler to walk along them — the shifting, slightly unstable surface challenges their balance in ways flat floors cannot.
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Low climb-and-sit. Place a large, firm cushion or folded comforter on the floor and let your toddler practice climbing up, sitting, and climbing back down — this teaches them to manage height transitions safely with their whole body.
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Carry the heavy thing. Hand your toddler a slightly heavy board book or small bag of rice to carry across the room — the added weight lowers their center of gravity and builds core and leg strength.
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Sideways walking. Stand facing your toddler, hold both their hands, and walk sideways together — lateral stepping strengthens different muscles than forward walking and improves hip stability.
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Walking up a ramp. Prop a wide board securely against a low step to create a gentle ramp and let your toddler walk up it — the incline requires more force per step and builds calf and thigh strength.
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Chase and be chased. Get down low and crawl quickly away from your toddler, encouraging them to walk fast or toddle-run after you — the speed motivation pushes them past comfortable walking pace and builds dynamic balance.
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Sit-to-stand from the floor. Place a toy on the ground, let your toddler squat to get it, then place another toy on a low shelf so they stand up to put it away — this repeated squat-and-rise cycle is excellent strength training.
Safety Note
Climbing ambition appears before climbing skill. If your toddler starts scaling furniture, redirect them to safe climbing surfaces like stacked cushions on the floor. Anchor all bookshelves and dressers to the wall now if you have not already.
Best Surface for 14-Month-Old Motor Play
Faster walking means harder falls, and early climbing attempts mean falls from a few inches of height. A memory foam play mat cushions both walking tumbles and climbing spills, giving your toddler the freedom to push their limits safely. Shop Poco Koko play mats →
Related milestone guide: When Do Babies Walk?
Written by the Poco Koko Team — parents, product designers, and child safety researchers dedicated to creating safer floors for families.