Happy Fall everyone!!! Here is a quick blog post on frequent falling in kids, how to know when they are falling more than they ought to, and some fun ways to work on balance at home!
Photo by Scott Webb from Pexels
But kids fall all the time??
YEP!! They DO! and its a GOOD THING!!! Kids should fall, a lot! They should not be AFRAID of falling. They should honestly look like a rubber bouncy ball when they hit the ground - back up and playing nearly instantly.
Falling works on so many things! It is great vestibular input - it helps the body determine where its center of gravity is and how far outside its base of support they can push it without falling. It works on strength - catching yourself when you fall is not an easy thing! AND it works on confidence in movement - the kid who is OK with falling is probably pretty darn confident in their skill set and knows what might push them outside their comfort zone and TRIES IT ANYWAYS!
So is my kid falling too much?
Likely the answer is no they are not - they are falling a normal amount, which is a lot! However here are some red flags when it comes to falling!
Are they afraid to fall? Do they actively avoid activities where they could fall?
Are they tripping themselves with their own feet?
Are they tripping over objects or thresholds that seem odd to have caught their toe on or not seen? Or are they running into objects and acting as if they couldn’t see them?
Are they poor at catching themselves when they fall?
If your kiddo is showing some or all of these signs, having a conversation with your pediatrician or pediatric physical therapist is a good idea. It could be indicative of visual issues (near or far sighted), sensory sensitivities (gravitational insecurities), lower extremity alignment issues (in toeing), or difficulties with vestibular input (lack of good protective reactions or postural control)
How can I work on it at home with my kid?
As always, there are some easy ways to work on balance at home with games and other fun tasks. Check out 5 of my favorite ways below!
Half Kneel
This is a great way to work on hip and core strength as well as balance! I typically encourage kids to either play at a wall or low table for those that need a little extra help. Or if they need some challenge make them catch or bounce a ball!
Sidewalk/ Balance Beam
The edge of sidewalks or parking barriers make perfect balance beams for working on! Up the challenge by having your child balance something on their head or balance an egg on a spoon!
Marble Game
One of my favorites that I use all the time in clinic! Set out a bunch of marbles and have your child pick them up with their toes while standing on the other foot and place them in a bucket or other container.
Bucket Walk/Balance Stones
This one you can create if you have your own buckets or get it on amazon! To encourage going back and forth have them work on a puzzle or game which has pieces that need retrieved and taken across!
Propped Single Leg Balance
Have your child place one foot up on a stool or ball and keep their balance on the other! Like half kneeling, this can be done at a wall or table for extra support or challenged with catching a ball!
Hope you got some good ideas for fun balance activities! And if you ever have any questions about how to work on these at home, reach out to your pediatric physical therapist to ask!