The Importance of Balance

Balance is achieved and maintained by a complex set of sensorimotor control systems that include sensory input from vision (sight), proprioception (touch), and the vestibular system (motion, equilibrium, spatial orientation); integration of that sensory input; and motor output to the eye and body muscles. 

Balance begins in infancy as babies begin to hold their heads up and raise themselves up on their arms. It develops steadily with opportunities to run, jump, climb, balance and play. Development stabilises at approximately 10-11 years. There are balance milestones to achieve by certain ages. Eg, a child should be able to balance on one leg for more than 12 seconds by the age of 5.5 years. At pre-school girls appear to have slightly better balance than boys.

Balance is basic to physical fitness as it is the ability to maintain and control body position while stationary or moving.

Good balance and core muscle tone enables a child to sit at a desk for academic tasks and to persevere for reasonable periods of time. This is called static balance. Without it the child will fidget, rock on the chair and need frequent excuses to stand and walk.

Dynamic balance is the ability to maintain postural control during movement so is important to all sport and dance.

Giving children lots of time to play freely outside, to climb, swing and roll, is essential for developing good balance and posture.

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