Balance and Coordination

Balance and Coordination 

What is it? 

Balance is the ability to maintain a controlled body position during a task. Balance is necessary for all activities of daily living. From sitting at a table to stepping up on a curb, to function safely in society, we need the ability to maintain a controlled body position. This is important because it allows a child to participate in physical skills such as walking and sitting or even playing a sport. With good balance and coordination, the likelihood of injury during play is minimized. 

What do you need to develop balance and coordination? 

• Attention and concentration: the ability to sustain attention to a specific task for a period of time
• Body awareness: knowing the parts of the body and how they move through space in relation to other objects 
• Bilateral integration: utilizing both hands simultaneously
• Crossing mid-line: the ability to cross over the center of the body with both hands 
• Hand-eye coordination: ability to process information from the eyes to control the hands in a given task 
• Muscular strength: muscles ability to exert force 
• Postural control: ability to stabilize the trunk and coordinate the limbs 
• Sensory processing: accurate processing of sensory stimulation the environment provides 

What are the symptoms of poor balance and coordination? 

•  Easily falling 
• Lacking fluid body movement (robotic-like movements)
• Slower than peers to complete physical skills like swimming or riding bikes 
• Fearful of physical games 
• Scared of heights that do not phase most people 
• Difficulty getting dressed while standing 
• Bumping into things in the environment 
• Easily fatiguing during physical activity 

Balance and Motor Planning Development for 2-8 years old: 

2-3 years old: 

• Jumps 8-14 inches
• Jumps from bottom step 
• Catches a large ball using body to help 
• Walks downstairs alone 
• Walks upstairs with support 
• Climbs well 
• Runs well 
• Pedals tricycle 
• Initiates 1 foot standing 
• Walks backwards for about 10 feet
• Walks on toes 
• Jumps sideways, backwards and over a 2-8 inch hurdle 
• Hops on 1 foot 
• Stands on 1 foot for 1-5 seconds 
• Climbs playground equipment 

3-4 years old: 

• Gallops 
• Hops on one foot 
• Walks on a line
• Stands on one foot 
• Jumps down from 12 inches with feet together
• Walks up and down stairs alternating feet without rail 

4-5 years old: 

• Stands on one food for 8-10 seconds 
• Skips 
• Throws a ball to target
• Hops 5+times on one foot 
• Begins jumping role
• Pumps a swing
• Walks balance beam forward and backward
• Somersaults 

5-8 years old: 

• Stands on one foot for 10+ seconds
• Catches a small ball with hands only 
• Jumps over an object landing with feet together 
• Walks tandem on a line
• Walks backwards heel to toe 
• Walks balance beam 
• Uses opposite step and throw to throw a small ball 
• Uses jump rope 
• Rides bike without training wheels 
• Skips well 
• Kicks a soccer ball with fair control/accuracy