This week we are talking about the vestibular system!
The vestibular system controls our sense of spatial awareness, balance and movement. Located in the inner ear, it allows us to coordinate our muscle movements and feel secure and balanced in our body.
The vestibular system is related to:
- Balance
- Spatial awareness and spatial memory
- Awareness of our body in relation to gravity
- Sense of rhythm and timing
- Sense of movement and direction
- Emotional stability
- Control of posture and keeping our head upright
A child who has issues with their vestibular system might:
- Struggle with posture
- Be hyperactive and easily distracted
- Struggle with reading and maths
- Exhibit clumsiness and poor balance
- Struggle with activities that require two hands or using both sides of the body such as riding a bike, tying shoelaces, cutting etc.
- Stand too close to other people
- Be scared of heights and being lifted off the ground (e.g elevators)
- Avoid moving or climbing play equipment
- Struggle to visually follow moving objects
Fortunately there are many different ways children can improve their vestibular functioning. Your local playground can provide endless opportunities for vestibular input.
Activities that can be done at the playground include:
- Swings – sitting, standing or swinging in the ‘superman’ pose. Swinging from side to side, spinning.
- Sliding down the slide or even going up the slide!
- Balancing on a balance beam/bench
- Climbing up a ladder and monkey bars
There are also many helpful activities that can be performed in the backyard, such as
- A backyard dance party
- Cartwheels or tumbles
- Jumping on the trampoline
- Hopscotch
- Playing leap frog
- Climb a tree
- Ride a bike
Vestibular activities you can do inside include:
- Crawling on couch cushions
- Using a skipping rope as a ‘balance beam’
- Jumping on a bed
- Spinning in an office chair
- Crawling up the stairs
- Walking on bubble wrap
- Reading, colouring in, etc. while lying on the floor
