Have you ever wondered why your toddler spins and makes themselves dizzy?

Toddlers love to move and soon after taking their first steps they often seem determined to unsteady themselves again. They will seek out opportunities to make themselves dizzy by spinning or tipping upside down, or to challenge their balance with swinging or rocking.  

Sensory systems 

Understanding your toddler’s vestibular system and the proprioceptive sense will help you to understand your child’s desire to move in this way. 

The vestibular system 

The vestibular system is concerned with movement, and the development of the vestibular sense is important in ensuring good balance, posture and movement.  

We’re aware of our movements thanks to receptors in our inner ear and these work with our other senses to help us to stay balanced.  

When toddlers spin, these receptors sense movement, and as your toddler becomes dizzy, they learn how to manage that feeling and develop their balance. Through these movements, they are training their vestibular system to work with their other senses to improve their balance.  

The proprioceptive sense  

The proprioceptive sense is about being aware of body position. To do most things we need to know where the different parts of our body are.  

The proprioceptive sense is linked to receptors in our muscles and joints; these receptors are stimulated by movement and pressure, so pulling, jumping, swinging and hugging all provide proprioceptive input. 

Our proprioceptive system helps us to avoid bumping into things, to climb and to hold a pencil to write. 

So, when your toddler swings, climbs and moves, they are learning about their body's position, and this helps them to move freely.   

When is too much, too much? 

Many of the activities that support your toddler’s awareness of their body can be exciting, and it is important to think about that in terms of children’s ability to self-regulate.  

Your toddler might need you to help them recognise when spinning, swinging or tipping upside down is getting a bit too exciting, and to suggest that they pause and do something calm for a little while.