[Why do children walk when falling down while adults fall down in walking?].

Some posturo-dynamical features of early gait have been studied in 5 children a few weeks after onset of independent walking and are analysed in comparison with adult gait. During the single support phases, the vertical acceleration of center of gravity of the child is negative and remains positive only during the double support phases. For the adult, the vertical acceleration of the center of gravity is positive before the time of heel contact. During the single support phases of the independent gait, the child does not have the same postural capacity to maintain his balance with respect to the gravitational forces and control of the vertical position of his center of gravity is different of the adult.