Method and apparatus for assisting a child to walk

An apparatus for assisting a larger person to assist a smaller disabled person to learn to stand and to walk while keeping the hands of both persons free for other tasks comprising

• a body harness, said body harness to be worn by said larger person,
• said body harness comprising a strap adapted to be worn around the waist of the larger person, said strap comprising a sleeve,
• an elongated flexible member telescopically and slidably received in said sleeve, first and second portions of said elongated flexible member extending from said sleeve, and
• first and second connectors at each of the ends of said first and second portions of said elongated flexible member for being releasably connected to the smaller person so that said elongated flexible member slides in said sleeve to continue to assist said smaller person as the smaller person's trunk rotates while walking and standing so that said smaller person has substantial freedom of movement while said larger person guides said smaller person to walk.

An apparatus for assisting a larger person to assist a smaller disabled person to learn to stand and to walk comprising

• a foot harness, said foot harness comprising a support, said support being large enough to simultaneously assist the same side foot of the larger and smaller person,
• first and second sets of straps connected to said support,
• said first set straps being for connecting the foot of said smaller person to said support, and
• the second set of straps being for connecting the foot of said larger person to said support, and
• said first and second sets of straps are connected to said support so that the heel of the smaller person is generally along side the front of the larger person's foot so that the smaller person's leg and trunk will be in front of the larger person's leg and trunk.