Children with poor balance may often trip or fall and bump into things around the home and classroom or struggle with playground equipment and/or other gross motor skills.

Balance is the ability to maintain our body’s position in space and within our base of support when moving (dynamic balance) or being still (static balance).We also require core stability and good postural control to maintain and regain our balance and posture during specific tasks.

The importance of dynamic balance is obvious when we think about running, learning to ride a bike, walking along a beam, moving between rocks at the beach, playing sport or climbing in the playground.

But children also require static balance in order to sit symmetrically at a table for handwriting, threading, standing on one foot, or playing ‘statues’ or ‘freeze’. Static balance is also a very important skill that supports a child’s ability to pay attention.

Balance requires many different systems (vestibular, proprioception, visual, core stability, strength and postural control) to be working effectively and efficiently in order for us to do all that is expected as we develop and grow. Sometimes one or more systems may lag behind or not be fully integrated, which then means we struggle to keep up with our peers and can easily lose confidence, especially if a fall or injury may have occurred whilst playing.