Cultural factors play a big role in how and when kids develop their motor skills, which are the movements that help them crawl, walk, and play. Different cultures can lead to different ages when kids reach these milestones.

For example, babies in cultures that focus on teamwork and community, called collectivist cultures, often start crawling around 7.2 months old. On the other hand, babies in cultures that emphasize independence, known as individualistic cultures, usually start crawling a bit later, around 9.2 months old.

Also, the way kids play in their culture can affect their motor skills. Here are some examples:

• In some African communities that encourage lots of active play, babies might start walking as early as 9 months.
• In contrast, in some Western cultures where kids might be less active, they may start walking later, at around 12 months.

These differences show how important culture is in shaping how children grow and develop new skills.