Crawling isn't just about getting from A to B, either in terms of space or of children's progression to walking. It is an important 'destination' in itself to be enjoyed, explored and fully experienced to allow the fundamental integration of children's physical, emotional and neurological growth.
The instinct to crawl is there right from birth, although babies don't begin to do it until their bones and joints are strong enough to bear their weight - one of the reasons why there can be such variation in the age at which crawling develops.
Although it's easy to think of crawling as just a physical action, there is a lot going on in the brain when a baby starts to crawl. For the first time, three very important senses are beginning to integrate:
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