Diving into the Central nervous system pyramid: The vestibular & proprioceptive Systems & why they’re a power team

Ah, the dynamic duo of sensory systems—vestibular and proprioceptive! They're like Batman and Robin, working together for the greater good of body awareness and movement.

The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems at the base of the central nervous system pyramid. The vestibular system creates our sense of balance. The development and regulation of this system is monumental to many aspects of life. This is because so much that we do (and ask kids to do) depends on balance, including paying attention to specific stimuli. Think about trying to sit and listen to a parent or teacher talk without having your sense of balance - it would be extremely challenging. Learning how to balance is only done through different types of movement and posture requirements. One of my favorite lines from A Moving Child is a Learning Child is “as upside down as it may seem, if you want a child to learn to sit still, you’ve got to let him move”. (Connell & McCarthy, page 86). 

The vestibular system plays a crucial role in our ability to move our head and body effectively. This sensory system is located deep within our inner ear and is activated every time we move our head. The system is comprised of canals lined with tiny hairs and fluid, which swishes around and touches the hairs as we move. The brain then interprets this input and directs our movements accordingly.The amount of input we receive increases with greater movement, which is why children with a "vestibular seeking" tendency crave more intense sensations. The vestibular system's connection to our vision, auditory, and proprioceptive systems makes it a key factor in our overall sensory processing. This link is particularly evident in the impact on eye-hand coordination, body awareness and movement.

If the vestibular system is underdeveloped or not processing input effectively, children may exhibit a range of difficulties, including poor handwriting, weak core strength, balance issues, motor planning challenges, and difficulties with attention, problem-solving, and organization. Therefore, it is important to provide children with opportunities to engage in activities that stimulate and develop their vestibular system, such as swinging, hanging upside down, rolling, climbing, and spinning (with caution). It is also important to note that each child's vestibular system is unique and may require different types and levels of input.

The proprioceptive system, one of the other unsung heroes of our sensory systems is like the body's GPS. This system helps us understand where our body is in space and how it's moving. The proprioceptive system isn't a specific "location" in the body like an organ, but rather a network of sensory receptors and nerves throughout our muscles, joints, and tendons. These receptors send signals to the brain about the body's position and movement. Muscles and joints play a big role in this system. When muscles contract or stretch and joints move, these receptors pick up on those changes and send signals to the brain, helping us understand the position and movement of our body parts. So, in a nutshell, it's a team effort involving muscles, joints, and specialized receptors working together to give us a sense of where our body is in space. Cool, right? 😊

Activities that involve heavy work, like pushing, pulling, lifting, or even climbing, are fantastic for proprioceptive input. It's like giving their bodies a dose of sensory superhero strength. This kind of input is not only fun but can also have a calming effect, which is gold in a pre-k setting or even at home!

*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I will make a small commission. Thank you for supporting my small business.

To recap:

The vestibular system is all about balance and spatial orientation, primarily located in the inner ear. Think of it as the body's tilt and balance sensor.

The proprioceptive system, on the other hand,  is about knowing where your body is in space through muscle and joint feedback.

Now, here's where the magic happens: they team up! When a child is swinging on a swing (vestibular input), their body is also getting all sorts of feedback from their muscles and joints (proprioceptive input). This combo helps them coordinate movements, maintain balance, and navigate their environment.

***It is important to note that most children will need to follow vestibular work with proprioceptive work. Vestibular input tends to be alerting to our nervous system, while proprioceptive input tends to be calming. After a vestibular input activity (especially spinning, rolling or hanging upside down), try giving your child some big bear hugs and/or have them do push ups, pull on a resistance band or push, pull or carry something heavy from one location to another.

Tips for engaging the vestibular and proprioceptive systems:

Hang upside down

Roll down a hill or across the floor

Spin in an office chair or on a sit n spin or spinning chair (see above*)

Play pass with different types of balls or toys

Jump on a trampoline (indoor or outdoor - see above*)

Swim

Blow & pop bubbles

Build blanket and couch cushion forts and allow jumping and crashing

Create an obstacle course with household items or Balance Pods/Weighted Ball Set (see above*)

Swing (indoor or outdoor - see above*)

Wall push ups

Joint Compressions (please get guidance from a professional to ensure safety)

Do animal walks

Push or pull a heavy wagon

Carry a heavy object or backpack (“heavy” relative to child’s size)

Use a weighted stuffed animal (see above*) or weighted vest (please get guidance from a professional to ensure safety)

Use a weighted blanket - should be around 10% of body weight and child should be able to move freely (see above*)