Is your child covered in bruises? Bumping into things, knocking things over?
What’s going on? Well, maybe some of it is about balance. Even if they can run and jump or even skateboard or flip or ride a bike does not necessarily mean their balance is efficient.
What happens when they slow down? Ah, this is often when it becomes tricky.
If balance is an issue, or if moving slowly is harder than moving fast, then supporting the vestibular system is often helpful. There are sensors in the inner ear that report to the brain about the head’s position and movement.
It’s been our experience that the system can become more efficient when slow movement is practiced. And when it’s done just a bit at a time, gently.
One playful way to go about it is balloon games. Balloons float gently. Watching them encourages slow movement of the head.
And keeping the balloon up in the air can be fun. Explore what you like better: each player has a different balloon, or the group keeps one or more balloons up in the air collaboratively. Too easy? You can decide that you can only touch the balloon with your elbow, or your foot or one finger…
Remember: use a space that is safe enough for all the players, without too much to break or bump into.
