40 Fun Vestibular Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers

Parents aim to give their kids the best start in life, and one way to do this is through physical activities.

Vestibular exercises can help children develop balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. Here are 40 activities to get your preschooler or toddler moving and developing these skills!

Benefits of Vestibular Activities activities

Improves coordination and balance: 

These activities that involve movement through space, such as spinning or rolling, can help improve a child’s balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.

Develops hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills: 

Jumping, hopping, or swinging require gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Promotes cognitive development and stimulates the brain: 

They challenge the brain by requiring it to process information about movement and balance.

Boosts confidence: 

As children practice and improve their vestibular skills, they may feel more confident in moving their bodies and performing physical activities.

Improves core strength and posture: 

Many vestibular activities require using the core muscles, which can help improve posture and core strength. This can be especially important for young children still developing these muscles.

Provides exercise in a fun way: 

Vestibular activities can be a fun and engaging way to exercise, which helps children develop a fondness for physical activities from a very young age. 

simple vestibular activities for your toddlers and preschoolers

Spin ’til You Win

Get your little one spinning around like a dizzy top while holding their arms out like a bird! It might seem silly, but this activity helps their balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.

Hopscotch Hoedown 

Draw up a hopscotch board on the ground and watch your child’s gross motor abilities, balance, and coordination blossom as they hop from square to square! Plus, it’s a great way to get them to follow instructions without realizing it.

Balloon Volleyball Bonanza

Blow up a balloon and have your kiddo hit it back and forth with their hands! Not only will they have a blast, but this activity also helps with hand-eye coordination, gross motor skills, and socialization.

Hula Hoop Hoorah

Challenge your child to keep a hula hoop spinning around their waist for as long as possible! It’s a fantastic workout that promotes balance, coordination, and endurance while helping them concentrate and focus.

Rocking Horse Rodeo

Hop on a classic rocking horse and watch your child develop their sense of balance, coordination, and rhythm while enjoying a soothing and calming activity.

Swinging Sensation

Let your little one soar to new heights on a swing set! Swinging back and forth improves balance, coordination, and spatial awareness and helps build core muscles, and boosts confidence.

Tightrope Trek

Lay a plank or piece of wood on the ground and have your child walk across it like a tightrope walker! This activity is a great way to promote balance, coordination, and concentration while building their confidence and problem-solving skills.

Trampoline Triumph

Bouncing up and down on a trampoline is a blast and helps with gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and endurance! The endorphins released during this activity will help improve your child’s mood.

Catch with a Twist

Playing catch with a ball is always fun, but why not mix it up by throwing in some silly rules? This activity enhances hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and socialization while improving reaction time and fine motor skills.

Tunnel Time

Create a fun tunnel using blankets or pillows, and watch your child crawl through it like a little explorer! This activity promotes spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, gross motor skills, and creativity.

Bike Riding Bonanza

Teach your child to ride a bike with training wheels, and watch as they develop their balance and coordination skills!

Parachute Party

Grab a parachute and have your child hold onto the edges while shaking it up and down! This activity is a fun way to promote balance and coordination.

Jumping Jack Joyride

Get your child’s heart pumping with some jumping jacks! This activity is a fantastic way to improve gross motor skills.

Tiptoe Tango

Challenge your child to walk on their tiptoes like a ballerina! This activity promotes balance and coordination.

Yoga Yippee

Introduce your child to simple yoga poses like downward dog or child’s pose. This activity helps with balance and spatial awareness and is a great way to calm down and relax.

Simon Says, Superstar

Play a Simon Says game and watch your child improve their listening skills and coordination!

Racing Rally

Set up a race between your child and their friends or siblings, and watch as they improve their gross motor skills and have a blast!

Rolling down a hill

Find the steepest hill in your neighborhood and let your kid roll down like a giggling snowball! Just make sure to avoid any trees or bushes on the way down.

Playing on a balance ball 

Challenge your little one to a “King of the Ball” game and see who can stay balanced the longest while bouncing up and down. Just be prepared for some silly falls and giggles along the way.

Playing with a jump rope 

Jump rope is not just for Double Dutch champions anymore! Grab a rope and show your child some fun tricks like the “Criss Cross” or the “Butterfly.” Don’t forget to cheer them on as they attempt to master the art of jumping.

Twirling around 

Let your child spin like a top until they’re dizzy and giggly. Hold on to them tightly so they don’t fly into outer space!

Crab walk 

Challenge your little one to race across the living room floor while walking like a crab. This goofy activity will have them using muscles they didn’t even know they had.

Walking on a wobbly surface 

Create a pillow fort and challenge your child to walk across it without falling over. Who needs a tightrope when you have a soft and wobbly cushion to balance?

Playing with a balloon 

Blowing up balloons is always a fun activity, but batting them back and forth with your child is even better! Just make sure to avoid any sharp objects that may pop the balloon.

Jumping over obstacles 

Set up an obstacle course with pillows, blankets, and cushions for your child to jump over. It’s a great way to develop gross motor skills and channel their inner superheroes.

Playing with bubbles 

Chasing bubbles is a classic activity for kids and good reason! It’s a fun and goofy way to improve hand-eye coordination and get some fresh air.

Rolling a ball back and forth 

This simple activity may seem boring to adults, but to a child, it’s an exciting game of catch that develops hand-eye coordination and helps them learn how to take turns.

Walking on a balance board 

Challenge your child to walk across a wood plank or balance board without falling off. Just make sure to have a soft landing spot in case they do!

Dancing 

Crank up the music and have a dance party with your little one. Not only is it a fun way to burn off some energy, but it’s also a great way to develop coordination and rhythm.

Playing with a parachute ball 

Toss a ball onto a parachute and have your child work on their teamwork skills by keeping the ball in the air. It’s a fun and silly way to improve their balance and coordination.

Walking backward 

Challenge your child to walk back across the room without looking. It’s a goofy activity to help them develop their balance and coordination.

Skipping 

Teach your child to skip, hop, and jump like a kangaroo! It’s a fun and goofy way to develop their gross motor skills and coordination.

Playing with a bean bag 

Tossing a bean bag back and forth may sound like a simple activity, but it’s a great way to develop hand-eye coordination and have some silly fun.

Playing with a cardboard box 

Who needs a fancy toy when you have a cardboard box? Give your child a cardboard box and let them climb in and out. This will encourage their imagination and help them develop their spatial awareness. Watch out; they might turn it into a spaceship!

Climbing on a play structure

Let’s take it to the playground and climb on a play structure! This is a great way to challenge your child’s balance and coordination. And let’s be honest; it’s also an excuse for you to go down the slide a few times.

Stepping stones

Create a fun obstacle course with stepping stones made of cushions or pillows. This will help your child develop balance, coordination, and spatial awareness while having a blast. Who knew jumping from pillow to pillow could be so exciting?

Playing with a frisbee

Time to bring out the frisbee! Throwing and catching a frisbee is not only a fun activity but also helps your child develop their hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. Who knows, maybe your child will become the next frisbee champion!

Doing somersaults 

Let’s get upside down and do some somersaults! Teaching your child how to do somersaults is an excellent way to help them develop their sense of balance and coordination, but it’s also a fun and exciting activity that they’ll enjoy. Just don’t forget to breathe!

Playing with a ride-on toy

Ride-on toys, such as scooters or balance bikes, are a great way to help your child develop balance and coordination. Plus, they’re a fun way for them to explore their environment. Just be ready to chase them around the block!

Playing with a jump bag

Let’s jump on a jump bag! Jumping on a jump bag is a great way for your child to develop gross motor skills and coordination. And who doesn’t love a soft landing?

So, there, you have some fun and engaging vestibular activities for your child to enjoy. These activities promote physical development and encourage your child’s imagination and creativity. So let’s get silly and play together!