Do babies need to be taught to walk? Sensory motor development happens as the first stage of the intellectual learning of babies. In many cultures, people have been led to think that unless infants are taught they don’t learn. All “normal” children learn to walk. Gross motor development happens naturally when an infant has plenty of space to move in a safe, age-appropriate, and challenging environment. When allowed to move freely and without interference children learn to move gracefully and securely and, through endless repetition and practice, they become well-balanced.