Vestibular Exercises for Children

Vestibular exercises are an important part of a child's life as they learn to live with an inner-ear disorder. These disorders can cause your child to lack balance and other fine motor skills that many other kids take for granted. While it is important to work with a physical therapist to tailor these exercises to your child's case, there are a few exercises that you can do with your child on your own time.

Skateboard

• Purchase a skateboard at a local skate shop. You don't need to purchase anything fancy or expensive. While you monitor, have your child practice scooting on her stomach around the driveway or in the garage. This exercise increases balance as she learns to keep her weight on the center of the board.

Moving Objects

• Find a toy or another small object that you can easily hold and your child can focus on. Place the toy in your hand about 3 feet away from your child's face. Have her focus on the toy as you move it up, down, diagonally and change the distance from her face. As an alternative for more advanced exercises, have your child stand on a trampoline or uneven surface while you perform the same movements with the toy.

Balance

• Have your child walk slowly up a ramp or uneven surface. As her balance improves, you can increase the incline. You can also try taping out a flat line on your floor, driveway or in the garage and have her attempt to walk on it, keeping only her feet on the line.

Inegrating Exercises Into Play

• Vestibular exercise can seamlessly become integrated into a child's play time. Encourage your child to go on the teeter-totter, to swing, get on rocking toys and to ride around in moving toys, such as kids' cars.

Control

• A child should feel in control of the exercises and that you are not forcing her to do something she would rather not do. Try and make the exercises fun, but also listen to your child. If she wants to stop, then cease the exercises for now.