Vestibular and Proprioceptive Activities: Sensory Input Play for Children

We could not explore children’s physical development, but ignore the vestibular sense and the proprioceptive sense. Yes, we have additional senses to sight, hearing, tasting, feeling, and smelling. The vestibular system and the proprioceptive system use sensory input to connect the body to the brain. These systems send messages to the brain. Then the brain and body can work together to balance, coordinate movement, and respond to the environment.

Check out 18 Sensory Learning Activities for 18-month-olds for even more sensory play ideas for toddlers.

This topic is a little extra nerdy for all my collectors of child development knowledge. This is information that you can hoard away to use when you want to flash a little extra early childhood expertise. Probably more important, you can use this information to support children’s overall development and learning. But hey, you should get to flex your brilliant mind when you get the chance.

Vestibular Sense Definition: What is Vestibular Input?

The vestibular sense, or vestibular system, is our sense of balance and our sense of how fast our bodies are moving. Vestibular input occurs in the inner ear and tracks our head movements. When fluid in our inner ears moves across the tiny hair cells in our ears, it gives our body information. Children naturally spend time spinning, rolling, flipping, and turning upside-down in order to provide their brain and body with vestibular input. Moving the head keeps the fluid moving. This is why infants are born with a fully-functioning vestibular sense (think of all the rotating and rolling in the womb).

As an adult, can you not spin or tolerate large amusement rides like you did as a kid? We can blame our weakened vestibular systems for that.

So much of the information about the vestibular sense came from a TimberNook Tips podcast series.

Vestibular Sense Examples

• Being able to shift weight to balance body
• Knowing we are moving too fast and should slow down
• Spinning (or even turning around) without falling or getting disoriented

What Damages the Vestibular Sense

• Being restricted or contained for long periods of time
• Spending too much time sitting upright in chairs

Proprioceptive Sense Definition: What is Proprioceptive Input?

The proprioceptive sense, or proprioceptive system, is the sense of where our body is in space. It lets us know what direction we are moving, where the parts of our body are located, or how close we are to an obstacle. The proprioceptive system also provides us with information about how much force to use when handling objects. Proprioceptive input occurs in our muscles and joints.

Proprioceptive Sense Examples

• Knowing where a body part is without being able to see it
• Knowing how close or far away an obstacle is
• Understanding our own strength

Developmental Concerns Related to the Vestibular or Proprioceptive System

The vestibular sense and the proprioceptive sense are part of sensory-processing. Sensory-processing disorders can have a constellation of symptoms. Below are just a couple that relate specifically to the vestibular or proprioceptive systems:

• Clumsy, uncoordinated movements
• Always playing a little too rough, even when trying to be gentle
• Using exaggerated movements – slamming cups onto table, tearing through paper while writing
• Seeking out constant sensory input by spinning, flipping, rocking

In my post on toddler physical development, I talk about how children’s physical development is instinctual. If there are delays in a child’s development, the brain will guide a child to seek out ways to compensate. This could be by seeking out activities to stimulate the senses or avoiding activities that overstimulate the senses. These behaviors could be communication that there is a bigger issue that needs checked out.

Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns about your child’s sensory processing.

Vestibular and Proprioceptive Activities

UPDATE: 18 Sensory Learning Activities for 18-month-olds (and toddlers!)

Children’s physical development is instinctual and individual. Yes, we can generally know what a child is learning or what skill they are developing. However, we need to give children opportunities to freely listen to their own bodies. Then they can truly develop at their own pace.

Vestibular activities and proprioceptive activities are the perfect example of times when adults need to trust children. When I list activities below, it is to provide examples of what activities provide vestibular input or proprioceptive input. My recommendation is to give children uninterrupted time and space to do these activities IF THEY CHOOSE. Your role as a parent or educator is to give children the opportunity to do these activities and to avoid stopping them/saying no. When we do this, we allow children to listen to and trust themselves.

I’d love to share more about the importance of risk-taking play with you. It’s a little nerve-racking to let go of control, but I promise it is worth it.

Vestibular Input Activities

Think about what would move the fluid within the inner ear.

• Rocking
• Swinging
• Hanging
• Jumping
• Sliding
• Spinning
• Dancing
• Tumbling

Proprioceptive Input Activities

Think about what puts force on the joints and muscles (small and large).

• Climbing
• Pushing/pulling
• Catching/Throwing
• Weighted blankets/Rolling up into blanket “cocoons”
• Moving heavy objects
• Dough or clay
• Sensory play: scooping, pouring
• Using writing utensils
• Limbs crossing midline: fingers plays, rhythm sticks, dancing, “sword fighting”

Vestibular and Proprioceptive Nature Play Activities

No surprise, but my 10/10 recommendation for supporting the vestibular and proprioceptive systems is lots of unstructured outdoor time and nature play.

• Rolling down hills
• Climbing trees or rocks
• Swinging
• Dragging branches
• Jumping
• Swimming
• Digging with big shovels or small shovels
• Carrying buckets
• Pushing wheelbarrows
• Pulling wagons
• Bikes and trikes

How the Vestibular Sense and Proprioceptive Sense Connect to Learning

I believe so much of child development (aka human development) lacks a holistic view. We can’t see the forest for the trees (ha, timely nature comedy). The vestibular and proprioceptive senses connect our bodies to our brains. Literally, they stimulate the brains. Without enough stimulation, the intricate connection between our brains and our bodies will weaken. Physical activity feels more like a chore than something enjoyable. We don’t notice messages from our bodies as well. When we reduce children’s unstructured play time, they have less time to naturally explore and strengthen the body-mind connection. This means also struggling in other areas of their development such as cognition and emotional regulation.

Hey adult, this goes for you too. Again, this is human development, not just child development. Moving our bodies in all different ways is not just an example we want to set, but also helps us feel better. When we feel better, we can better be there for the children depending on us.