Balance Exercises for Toddlers

15 Mar Balance Exercises for Toddlers

Balance is a skill that we work to improve throughout our lifetime. In toddlers improving balance is imperative to allow them to achieve skills including walking, running, jumping, active play. 

Balance exercises by nature are very difficult to set. If the exercises are too easy for your child there is no point, if it’s too hard for your child they simply won’t be able to do it. We need to find the perfect exercises. Every child, particularly the younger children, will be at different stages with balance. Therefore, it is challenging to give specific ages to each exercise rather it is the right exercise if your child can do but has some wobbles or can only do it for about 10-15s.  

Single leg balance with pillow or book 

• Have your child stand with one foot on solid ground and one foot on a pillow or book, it makes the leg on solid ground work hard and improved balance 
• You can still provide hands on support 
• This exercise is great for pre-walkers who are pulling to stand and furniture walking and those new to walking. 

Single leg balance with adults’ leg 

• As above except have your child’s foot on your leg, it’s a bit higher which makes it harder 

• This exercise is great for pre-walkers who are pulling to stand and furniture walking and those new to walking. 

Walking with external support 

• For those walking with hand hold or walking with an A-Frame, try reducing their stability by using something like a hula hoop or a pole for your child to hold onto. This will mean they need to work harder through their leg and core muscles to balance.  

Stepping over objects or parents’ legs 

• You can sit with your legs out straight and have your child take big steps over your leg (they can have some hand-held support). 
• Alternatively, you can use an item such as a box and have your child step into and out of the box. 
• This activity is for children a few months into their walking journey to help improve single leg balance and reduce shuffling gait patterns! 

Stepping up and down steps

• Stepping up steps helps to improve single leg balance and strength.
• Stepping down steps is harder, it requires significant balance and strength, practicing this skill will help to improve it!

Playing in playground/play centers

• Playgrounds and Play centers are great places for your child to explore and in turn improve leg, arm and core strength as well as balance. Simple things kids love to do like walking along a smaller ‘plank’ or ledge is fantastic for balance.

If your child is delayed to walk it may be due to poor balance. Even some walkers still struggle with balance despite being able to walk. This means their walking may be less controlled and more a series of little falls. If you have any concerns about your child’s balance, please do not hesitate to contact the physiotherapists at Western Paediatric Physiotherapy.