Vestibular Balance Activities for Children

The vestibular system is located in the inner ear. It plays a vital role in balance by sensing motion of the body and the position of the head, sending messages to activate muscles to maintain upright posture and providing a point of fixation for the eyes when the head is moving. Balance issues occur when the vestibular system is disrupted when particles in the inner ear become dislodged, fluid builds up in the inner ear or the inner ear swells. Pediatric vestibular dysfunction is rare, but there are several activities that can be performed to address it when it does occur.

Head Exercises

• Head exercises can be performed to address vestibular dysfunction in children. Begin by looking up at the ceiling. Slowly nod your head. Look at the ceiling and then the floor as your head moves up and down. Perform this movement 10 times, then stop and wait for any dizziness to subside. Perform two more sets of 10 repetitions. Repeat this exercise moving your head and eyes from side to side. As you improve your ability to perform these exercises without dizziness, perform them with your eyes closed and finally in a standing position. It is normal to experience dizziness during these exercises.

Sitting Exercises

• There are several vestibular exercises that can be performed while sitting. Repeat each exercise 10 times and work up to three sets of 10 within your tolerance. Begin by shrugging your shoulders up and down while keeping your eyes fixed on a point in front of you. Start slowly and build up speed within your tolerance. With your eyes open, turn your upper body and head as a unit 90 degrees to the left and return to center. Then repeat this exercise by rotating to the right. Bend forward at the waist, touch the floor and return to a sitting position. Begin by fixing your eyes on a point on the wall and progress to moving your eyes from the wall to the floor and back.

  Eye exercises can also be performed while sitting. During these exercises, hold your head still. Hold a finger in front of your face and move it up and down, then side to side. Follow the movement with your gaze. As you advance, move your finger in toward your nose and back out, keeping your eyes focused on your finger.

Standing Exercises

• When you are able to perform the above exercises without dizziness, you can progress to exercising while standing. Sit on a chair and move from sitting into standing, then return to the seated position. Increase speed as this becomes easy or perform with your eyes closed (have another person stand by to prevent you from falling). Stand with one foot in front of the other, with the heel of the front foot touching the toes of the foot behind. Have a stable surface close by to assist your balance until you are able to maintain this position for 30 seconds. As this becomes easy, perform the exercises with your arms crossed over your chest.

Advanced Exercises

• Advanced exercises are appropriate when you are able to perform the above exercises without dizziness. Perform the above standing exercises while standing on an unstable surface such as a pillow or cushion. Other exercises can be incorporated such as walking heel to toe along a straight line, walking in a straight line while turning your head from side to side and standing on one foot.