Understanding How Children Learn Balance and Coordination

Babies, toddlers, young children, adults, and the elderly never stop learning about how to improve balance and coordination in their life. The skills of balance and coordination are important in our daily activities, movements, and in the prevention of physical injury. These are skills that stick with us all our lives, so it’s important that children start learning as early as possible!

What is Balance and Coordination?

Balance requires control of the arms and legs, as well as the torso and head.

Every part of the body must be balanced and stable, as it plays a crucial role in the activities of sitting, standing, bending, and standing on one foot.

The skill of coordination allows your child to engage in smooth and controlled body movements.

It includes the correct speed, direction, and tensing of the body’s muscles to become well-coordinated.

These coordination skills, in combination with balance, give your child the ability to move smoothly

Why are Balance and Coordination Important in Life?

Through proper development of balance and coordination, your child will be able to increase his or her functional activities well into adulthood.



Balance allows your child to develop core strength for great posture, which, if practiced continuously, can improve physical health. Balance is having more control over one’s body in relation to functions, such as climbing a ladder, walking up and down stairs, or lifting and moving large or heavy objects.

The skill of coordination allows you to perform movements that are both simple and complex at the same time. This is needed before the skill of balance can be achieved. Fluid movements that are perfectly timed are the combination of coordination and balance. Coordination is combining the movements in balance for the safety of your child, as well as yourself.

When do Children Begin to Learn Balance and Coordination Skills?

Coordination begins with the early development of head to mouth movements. Beginning around the age of 9 -12 months, on average, a child begins to learn how to walk greatly proving that balance and coordination are very important. Coordination often begins with your child trying to grasp for toys or other objects and begins to grow as your child begins to crawl.

Toddlers use balance for some activities, such as jumping, jumping rope, and kicking a ball. Balance doesn’t really stabilize in the younger years, until your child reaches kindergarten age. At this age, your child is better able at coordinating his or her movements.

What Types of Toys or Activities Aid in the Development of Balance and Coordination Skills?

It is never a bad time to go for walks with your child around your yard or within your neighborhood, if traffic is not heavy. Obstacle courses are great alternative activities that you can set up yourself. Just ensure that your child is coordinating his or her movements of walking, climbing, or crawling.

Balance and coordination also come from playing catch with a suitable ball for your child’s age, kicking a ball back and forth to each other, and the good `ole game of hopscotch. It is best to perform these games or activities for no less than 30 minutes per day.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash