Balancing Activities for Toddlers

A lot of parents are concerned about their children’s ability to maintain a good balance for their development. If you’re looking for balancing activities for toddlers, you’re in the right place!

In the following article, we’ll walk you through some of the most exciting games and activities that can improve your toddler’s balancing skills!

What Causes Balance Issues in Toddlers?

According to a study regarding children balance, balance issues in toddlers are commonly due to a wide range of health issues, such as:

• Ear infections
• Certain medications
• Head or neck injuries
• Genetic disorders
• Severe headache
• Neurological disorders

In addition to all these problems, it might be due to the lack of development of the balancing centre in the toddler’s brain, which is also due to genetics or less exposure to balancing activities.

Weak physical state, especially in feet, can also cause some balancing issues, which is also cured by better nutrition and allowing your child to be more active.

When Should a Child Develop Balance

Kids don’t develop balance instantly. Instead, they do it throughout various milestones. For example, by the age of two, your child should be able to walk and run unassisted.

By the third year, a toddler should be able to stand on one foot for a brief moment. They’re also expected to be able to kick balls forward around that age too.

How Can I Improve My Toddler’s Balance?

First, you should make sure that you’re not expecting more than your toddler’s age can do. However, if your child is starting to demonstrate a little delay in balancing abilities, there are various methods to improve their balance.

What Are Balancing Skills?

Balancing skills are the measures that test your toddler’s ability to maintain a controlled body posture while doing various tasks. These skills also include the ability to hold a stationary position at will.

How Do You Explain Balance to a Child?

Luckily, the concept of balance, weight, and gravity are approachable to kids at an early age and learning is a straightforward task.

While applying some of the following balancing activities to your kids, the concept of balance will sink right in without you even trying.

In that case, being balanced will feel like the “correct” thing to do to pass the games and challenges you present your toddler with.

Balancing Activities for Toddlers

In the following list, you’ll find some balancing game and non-game activities that will improve your toddler’s physical and balancing skills.

10 Balancing Games for Toddlers

Here are some games that can improve a toddler’s balance.

1. Ladder Bridge

Support a wooden ladder under two pillows to raise it above the ground enough that your toddler can cross. Challenge your toddler to cross the ladder and raise it up when it becomes too easy for them.

2. Freeze!

Play your toddler’s favourite music and challenge your toddler to freeze when the music stops. This will help you kid to improve the physical coordination of their body.

3. Balance Beams

You can use a Balance beam for toddlers and encourage your baby to cross it while placing each toe behind the heel. This activity is one of the best exercises that stimulate the balancing centre in your kid’s brain.

4. Bubble Lawn Mower

For very young toddlers who can’t stand for too long on their own, you can try the bubble lawnmower. This toy helps them move around to generate bubbles while offering safe support, improving motion gait.

5. Ride Toddler Bicycle

Riding a bicycle is one of the best activities that enhance the toddler’s balancing. This pedal-less toddler bike is designed to encourage balance, walking, and body coordination in toddlers.

6. Leaping Lily Pads

This game is deemed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to boost your child’s physical development. The game uses hula hoops at varying distances to create frog houses.

The toddlers need to jump across the hula hoops and jump 5 times on their favourite one to make it their own houses.

Parents can also add low obstacles as pool noodles and may even join themselves as hungry birds to make the game more challenging.

7. One Foot Challenge

Challenge your child to stand like a flamingo, preferably next to a wall for support, and use a timer to see how long you can both go.

With time, you’ll notice that your child will be able to stand for longer without needing the wall.

8. Hopscotch

A simple classic game of hopscotch is always a great way to improve balance for all ages. It’s easy to play and you can chalk up various configurations of boxes to enhance your child’s balance even more!

9. Walk the Garden Hose

If your toddler is too little for using a large balance beam, you can be creative and use smaller crossing lines, such as a garden hose.

The best part about it is that it doesn’t have to be a straight line, which gives you a way to kick things up a notch!

10. Pillow Path

Using various pillows, you can create a small path of the pillow with various pillow obstacles and elevations to create a 3D obstacle course fit for a little toddler. The game is tons of fun and improves children’s physical and balance skills.

What Non-Game Activities Help Toddler Balance?

In addition to all these games, there are some non-game activities that you can try to help your toddler to improve their balance skills.

• >For example, you can use some toddler-friendly yoga poses and have a fun bonding time with your little one. They love to imitate anyway!

Holding your toddler’s hands while they walk is also a great way to give them confidence, so they can walk for longer without falling. With time, you’ll notice a dramatic improvement!

Balancing Activities for Toddlers: Final Thoughts

There you have it. A brief guide with 10 balancing activities for toddlers that improves balance for kids.

Keep in mind that your toddler should always be under supervision while trying these balancing games.

Also, make sure that you always have a child first aid kit for toddlers with you, so you can deal with any minor injuries on the spot.

Check out our blog for related posts, such as baby sitting up et what to do when your baby bumps his head.