Toe Walking in Children: What’s “Normal” and When to Intervene

If you’ve noticed your child walking on their toes, you’re not alone. Many children go through a phase of toe walking as they develop balance, coordination and confidence. However, if it continues beyond the toddler years, it’s worth taking a closer look.

How Common Is Toe Walking?

Toe walking is fairly common in toddlers—especially while they’re learning to walk and explore. Most children naturally move into a heel-toe gait by around two years of age. If your child continues to spend most of their time on their toes or struggles to get their heels down, a paediatric physiotherapist can help identify why.

Why Do Children Walk on Their Toes?

There are several possible reasons children might prefer walking on their toes:

• Habitual behaviour: Some children simply develop the habit over time.

• Tight muscles or tendons: Tight calves or a shortened Achilles tendon can make it harder or more uncomfortable for heels to touch the ground.

• Sensory processing differences: Children who are sensitive to certain textures or who seek more movement feedback may rise up on their toes for comfort or input.

• Idiopathic toe walking: In many cases, there’s no specific cause—this is referred to as idiopathic toe walking and is quite common.

• Neurological conditions: Toe walking can sometimes be linked to cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or autism spectrum disorder, which affect tone or coordination.

  
  

What to Look Out For

Occasional toe walking isn’t unusual, especially when children are barefoot or excited. But consistent patterns can give useful clues. Notice whether your child:

• Walks mostly on their toes even when wearing shoes

• Finds it difficult to place their heels down flat on the ground

• Walks differently on varied surfaces (like grass, carpet, tiles or sand)

• Trips or tires easily, or avoids certain movement activities

• Shows tightness in the calves or feet after walking or running

  
  

If you notice several of these signs, or if your child is over two and still prefers being up on their toes, it’s a good time to check in with a physiotherapist.

Supporting a Heel-Toe Walking Pattern

A combination of gentle stretching, strengthening and play-based physiotherapy can make a big difference:

• Calf and ankle stretches: Simple wall stretches or squats to pick up toys help lengthen tight muscles.

• Animal walks and marching: Pretending to be a bear or marching like a soldier encourages full-foot contact.

• Balance and sensory play: Standing on cushions, wobble boards or exploring different textures barefoot builds strength, flexibility and awareness.

• Behavioural strategies: Fun visual cues and rewards help reshape movement habits.

• Orthotic devices: Heel cups or ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) may be recommended to support alignment and promote heel contact.

• Further support: In some cases, serial casting or Botox may be recommended to stretch tight muscles.

  
  

When to Seek Help

If your child is over two and still primarily walking on their toes, experiences tightness, or avoids certain movement activities, an early physiotherapy assessment can help. Contact us to book an assessment or chat with one of our therapists.