Spinning Toys to Strengthen the Vestibular System for better Attention and Focus

This article provides recommendations for spinning toys that support vestibular input. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

Recommending toys that encourage spinning may seem a little silly. Won’t the child get dizzy or experience motion sickness? Depending on how well their vestibular system is developed, they may experience motion sickness or they may love it and ask for more.

Your child or student’s vestibular system works like its own personal GPS. It sends messages to the brain telling the child what to do. If a child does not get enough vestibular input as they grow up, you may notice fidgeting in the classroom and trouble with concentration. A child with an overactive vestibular system may experience dizziness or motion sickness.

Either way, it’s important to incorporate toys that help build the child’s vestibular system, slowly if needed.

Kids who Crave Vestibular Input

For kids who need more vestibular input, they love toys that encourage spinning. To help their body stay calm so they can focus on other learning activities in the classroom, you can fill their free time with all types of activities that build the vestibular system.

For example, a child may stay on a swing the entire time they are at the park. Or, they may gravitate to the merry-go-round and ask to spin faster. Those kids may need more vestibular input through swinging, spinning, sliding and jumping.

Children who are Sensitive to Vestibular Input

Kids who are more sensitive to movement still need it, but in ways that incorporate it more slowly. Those who tend to get dizzy or sick need vestibular movement in small doses. You can introduce a few activities at a slow pace to help them get adjusted to a little movement, but not so much that they become uncomfortable.

If the child has an underdeveloped vestibular system, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Dizziness or nausea
• Spinning sensation or vertigo
• Heavily weighted or pulled in one direction
• Balance and coordination issues
• Stumbles into furniture, has trouble walking straight, struggles with sports
• Appears clumsy

Spinning Toys

To get your child or students spinning more at home or in therapy sessions, here are a few ideas that encourage vestibular input.

Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning challenges achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington, and Centerville areas. Areas to find Integrated Learning Strategies include: Reading tutors in Kaysville, Math tutors in Kaysville, Common Core Tutors in Kaysville, Tutors in Utah, Utah Tutoring Programs