The Vestibular System: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How Parents Can Support It at Home

When a child struggles with focus, coordination, emotional regulation, or even sitting still, we often look at behavior first. But underneath many of these challenges is something far more foundational: the vestibular system.

The vestibular system is one of the very first sensory systems to develop in utero, and it plays a powerful role in how a child’s brain and body work together. When it’s not functioning optimally, children don’t just act different—they feeldifferent in their bodies.

What Is the Vestibular System?

The vestibular system lives in the inner ear and acts as the brain’s primary organizer. Its job is to tell the brain where the head is in space and how it’s moving. This information helps the brain answer critical questions all day long:

• Am I upright or upside down?

• Am I moving or still?

• How fast am I moving?

• How do I stay balanced while I move?

Because the vestibular system connects directly to the brainstem and cerebellum, it has widespread influence over posture, muscle tone, balance, eye movements, attention, and even emotional regulation.

In simple terms: when the vestibular system is working well, the brain feels safe and organized. When it’s not, the brain is constantly trying to compensate.

How Vestibular Challenges Show Up in Kids

Children with vestibular system challenges don’t all look the same. Some may be constantly moving, while others avoid movement altogether. Common signs include:

• Difficulty sitting still or staying focused

• Poor balance or coordination

• Frequent falls or clumsiness

• Fear of playground equipment, swings, or heights

• Crashing into people or furniture

• Motion sensitivity (carsickness, dizziness)

• Emotional overreactions or meltdowns with movement

• Low muscle tone or slouched posture

For many children with ADHD, ASD, sensory processing challenges, or developmental delays, the vestibular system is either under-responsive (the child seeks movement) or over-responsive (the child avoids movement).

Why the Vestibular System Impacts Behavior and Learning

The vestibular system is deeply tied to regulation. When it’s underdeveloped or poorly integrated, the brain may stay in a constant state of alert. This can look like:

• Impulsivity

• Difficulty calming down

• Big emotional reactions

• Trouble with attention and transitions

Because vestibular input also influences eye tracking and postural control, it can affect reading, writing, and classroom participation. A child who can’t stabilize their body has a much harder time stabilizing their attention.

Simple Ways Parents Can Support the Vestibular System at Home

The good news? Vestibular input doesn’t require fancy equipment. Consistent, intentional movement can make a meaningful difference.

Here are some simple, parent-friendly ideas:

1. Gentle swinging and rocking
Swinging at the playground, rocking in a chair, or using a hammock provides calming vestibular input for many children. Start slow and observe your child’s response.

2. Rolling and spinning (in small doses)
Log rolls on the floor, rolling down a grassy hill, or gentle spinning in a swivel chair can be helpful—just keep it short and always follow with grounding activities like deep pressure, wall pushes or wheelbarrow walks.

3. Upside-down play
Somersaults, animal walks, or hanging over the edge of the couch (safely supervised) change head position and activate the vestibular system.

4. Balance challenges
Walking on a curb, standing on one foot, or using stepping stones helps integrate balance and body awareness.

5. Movement before focus
Try adding vestibular movement before homework, school, or challenging tasks. Many kids regulate better when their movement needs are met first.

A Gentle Reminder for Parents

More movement is not always better. The goal is the right type of movement for your child’s nervous system. Watch for signs of overstimulation such as increased silliness, irritability, or zoning out. When that happens, slow down and add calming input like deep pressure, breathing, or stillness.

At Brain Connex Therapy, we often see that when the vestibular system is supported and integrated, children feel more grounded in their bodies—and everything else becomes easier. Movement stops being “extra energy” to burn off and becomes a tool for regulation, learning, and connection.