Our vestibular sense receives sensory information as our head moves. This sensory input helps us with our balance, body awareness and coordinating our eyes as well as both sides of our body together for movements.
Example:
When our vestibular system is functioning optimally it helps us walk across unsteady surfaces without falling and coordinate our eyes and the rest of or body together for movements.
When our vestibular system is not functioning optimally we may feel unsteady as we walk and have difficulty using our hands together cooperatively.
Swinging, rocking, running and hanging upside down are some great ways to get vestibular input!
It is important to listen to our bodies and not overload our vestibular system by doing too much spinning or swinging if you are not sure how your or your child's body tolerates a certain kind of movement. Always consult your doctor
There is a lot to learn about our senses and how we receive and organize sensations. Click here to find some great resource materials to dig deeper.