Nursery World - Nursery Equipment: Vestibular System

A well-developed vestibular system leaves us feeling physically and emotionally balanced, but it needs to be trained through a range of particular movements, explains Nicole Weinstein

Children enjoy the sensation of being on the edge. They spin around poles; they walk along narrow curb stones; they look for things to jump on, hang off or roll around on. And they often seek opportunities to accentuate these feelings by, for example, tipping and falling off walls or milk crates rather than jumping off.

All of these natural activities that a child's body is biologically programmed to do are stimulating the vestibular system and, in turn, stimulating the brain for new learning. Early years settings should provide opportunities to help children develop and master this system, which is vital for later functions such as reading, writing and being able to sit still.

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