12/10/2026
Building Balance. Building Independence.
Did you know that balance is an important part of many everyday activities — from standing up and stepping over obstacles to walking, playing and reaching for toys?
Activities that involve stepping onto and off low platforms can help children practise several movement skills:
🔹 Balance and postural control – helping the body stay stable while moving.
🔹 Weight shifting – learning to transfer body weight from one leg to the other.
🔹 Coordination – practising how the legs work together during stepping.
🔹 Motor planning – working out how to position the body and where to place the feet.
🔹 Functional mobility – developing skills that can support participation in everyday activities.
How can parents encourage these skills at home?
Offer opportunities for your child to practise standing, reaching and stepping during everyday play. Use stable, low surfaces appropriate to your child’s abilities, stay close to provide support, and allow plenty of time to explore the movement.
Every child develops at their own pace. Choose activities that match your child’s current abilities, and remember that safety and quality of movement are more important than the number of steps completed.
✨ Small opportunities to practise can help build the foundations for bigger everyday skills.
MovementSkills ParentEducation PowerPaedsPhysiotherapy
