When the vestibular system is over-reactive, the child will find that he/she loses control and is afraid of falling even when he/she faces only minor balancing challenges. Movements to prevent falling are often exaggerated and the child is anxious and this/her movements in motor skills play and activity are much too careful. 

In simple terms, sensitivity can be described as the volume of sensory reception turned up higher than normal. The child feels, hears, tastes and reacts more strongly and more intensively.

A child who has these challenges is often reluctant to join in vestibular stimulating games and prefers sedentary games in small groups and more manageable spaces. The child is not challenged to experiment with physical and motor skills as often as other children and his/her motor skills development may be postponed as a result.

To ensure that the child’s brain recognises and learns to automate a movement, the movement has to be performed repeatedly and the child should also exper- iment with the movement. An automated response is more efficient, more economical and less demanding on the brain’s resources. The movement itself is of a better quality, i.e. flow and force are fluid and measured.

Products such as Build N' Balance (ESPO product code X106191) can be used in vestibular training.

A range of products encouraging physical and motor skills development for children can also be found in our catalogue.