As a parent, you never expect your child to struggle with something as fundamental as balance. But that's exactly what happened with my son. He was diagnosed with vertigo at a young age, and it wasn't just affecting his physical stability - it was impacting his ability to focus in class, his reading endurance, and even his self-regulation. The words on the page would often appear fuzzy or seem to move, making reading a frustrating challenge. Learn more about my son's story here.
A Growing Challenge in Schools
It's not just my son. Teachers are seeing more and more kids who can't seem to sit still or focus. A recent study published in the Australian Journal of Education found that behavior problems in schools have increased by 25% over the last five years (Smith et al., 2022). As a parent, that statistic hits home. I've seen firsthand how frustrating it is for kids (and teachers) when they can't concentrate.
The Science of Movement and Learning
Here's where it gets interesting. Scientists have found that certain movements can actually help kids learn better. It's not about running around aimlessly - it's about specific movements that stimulate the brain in particular ways.
Research published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health shows that children who regularly participate in movement activities are 30% better at controlling their behavior (Thompson et al., 2022). Another study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health discovered that even short 4-minute movement breaks can improve focus by 20% (Ma et al., 2014). When I read these studies, I couldn't help but think, "Why isn't every school doing this?"
The Power of Jumping
Take jumping. It's not just about burning energy. When kids jump, they're using both sides of their body together (bilateral coordination), which helps the two halves of the brain work better as a team. It also builds core strength, which, believe it or not, helps kids sit up and focus for longer.
For my son, we started with simple jumping exercises. We'd play "Alphabet Hopscotch," where he'd jump on letters to spell words. Not only was it fun, but it was helping him with spelling while building his physical strength and coordination.
As babies, we all have certain reflexes that help us survive. Jumping helps develop and integrate these reflexes, which turns out to be crucial for learning and behavior. One activity we loved was "Vocabulary Leap." We'd place word cards on the floor, call out a definition, and he'd jump to the correct word. This helped with reflex integration while expanding his vocabulary.
The Magic of Spinning
Now, spinning might sound counterintuitive, especially for a kid with vertigo. But controlled spinning activities can actually help develop the vestibular system - that's the inner ear balance system that was giving my son so much trouble.
We started small, with gentle spinning games. One of our favorites was "Spinning Spelling Bee." He'd spin slowly, then try to write a spelling word on a whiteboard. It was challenging at first, but over time, we saw improvements not just in his balance, but in his ability to focus on writing tasks.
Spinning also helps develop the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR). This is a fancy term for the reflex that keeps your vision stable while your head is moving. For a kid struggling with reading, where words seemed to move on the page, this was crucial. It's super important for reading and writing!
Another benefit of spinning is improved spatial awareness. Knowing where your body is in space helps with everything from handwriting to playing sports. We played "Directional Vocabulary Spin," where my son would spin, then follow instructions using directional vocabulary (e.g., "Take two steps north"). This improved his spatial awareness while learning geography terms.
High-Five Learning
We also incorporated lots of high-five games. These are great for developing the vestibulo-ocular reflex while making learning fun. We'd post letters around the room at different heights, and after a gentle spin, he'd have to high-five the letter I called out. It was helping his balance, his vision control, and his letter recognition all at once.
Another favorite was "Math Facts High-Five Race." We'd create two lines facing each other. I'd call out a math problem, and he'd have to high-five his sibling and say the correct answer. This activity practiced quick math recall while engaging the VOR.
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The Big Picture
Over time, we saw real changes. My son's focus improved. His reading endurance got better. The words stopped moving on the page, and reading became enjoyable rather than frustrating. Even his behavior became more regulated. He was more confident, not just physically, but in his learning abilities too.
I realized that by adding these kinds of movements into his day, we were helping him in so many ways:
- Better focus on schoolwork
- Improved behavior and self-control
- More confidence in his abilities
- And, importantly, he was enjoying learning more
Bringing Movement to All Kids
Seeing the difference in my son made me passionate about sharing this with other parents and teachers. That's why I developed the "Let's Move" and "Movement Intervention Program". These programs take what I learned from helping my son, my degree in Exercise Physiology (majoring in Neuro-Rehabilitation), and package it in a way that's easy for schools and families to implement.
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If you're dealing with a child who's struggling with focus, reading, or behavior, I encourage you to look into movement-based learning. It might just be the key to unlocking their potential.
Check out our programs here.
