My son is afraid of going up and down stairs

[md32]

My 3 and a half year old son is afraid of going up and down stairs, he always holds my hand. I've been trying to encourage him but he told me that he's afraid of falling down. Any advice? thank you

[specialmom]

I would just keep your eye on it.  If it starts to drift into other areas, then investigate further but he just may need some reassurance now.

My son, I will tell you was very active and could do many things but did have this problem with with his proprioceptive system.  

So, it is probably fine but just watch for future issues in case you need to help him with someone.  

How is he with a brand new activity like using scissors?  Or picking up something with tongs where you haven't showed him how to do it first?

[md32]

Thanks for your replies. In fact, he can go up and down holding the trail but not alone and he prefers holding my hand. For the other areas of gross development he doesn't have any problem he swims, climbs, jumps, goes down slides, walks on tip toes but his movement is a little bit slowler than kids as his age and he can't ride a trycicle yet

[specialmom]

oh duh.  Another obvious and excellent question.  

My friend's daughter had things that scared her---  such as stairs, going down slides, swimming.  Why?  She had vision problems.

My son had those reactions.  Why?  he had proprieceptive issues and didn't get signals as to where he was in space.  

Vision would be an easy one to check on.  

good luck

[Sandman2]

How is his vision?

[specialmom]

Hi.  Well, how does he do in other areas of gross development?  I ask that because sometimes kids have fear based on a nervous system issue in which they aren't getting proper signals to the brain telling them where there body is in space.  These kids often bang themselves into things and enjoy 'crashing'.  

[Life360_Dave]

I and welcome. i was the same as him as our stairs were very steep. So i would crawl down backwards untill i got my balance as i grew. Do you have a hand rail? If so maybe guide him down holding one and and his other hand is on the rail and then let him go down by himself, him holding the rail and you walking next to him. 3 is very young and his is still not coordinated.