Autistic and neuro-diverse children not only frequently have limited social and communicative skills but also have motor abnormalities, such as poor timing and coordination of balance. Moreover, impaired gross motor skills hamper participation with peers. Balance control is interesting from a cognitive science perspective, since it involves a complex interplay between information processing, motor planning, and timing and sequencing of muscle movements.

In this article, we discuss the benefits, the importance of dynamic balance, and activities you can do with children with autism.

Benefits:

• Moving on different surfaces requires different balance reactions 
• Improves balance and strengthens the postural muscles
• improved sitting and standing posture.  
• Challenge the 3 systems that involve balance including the vestibular system, visual system and proprioceptive system 

• Different surfaces challenge different muscles 
• Work quick twitch muscles that are necessary to prevent tripping and falling.
• Balance involves 3 systems including the visual system, vestibular system and sensory/input/proprioception. One or all of these systems can be affected, thus causing difficulties with both static and dynamic balance. 

Why this is important for autistic and neuro-diverse children 

• Autistic children often have motor difficulties and this can affect balance
• Difficulties with motor planning can affect balance and lead to tripping and falling
• Motor and balance impairments are common in 80% of autistic children yet motor impairments are not required for an autism diagnosis
• Motor and balance impairments can impede social interactions on the playground and socially 

Activity:

• Walk outside on various surfaces- baseball field, grass, bark mulch, sand box
• Walk over bean bags while holding the their hand
• Walk onto the trampoline and over
• Take an aerobic step or a step stool- walk up the steps and down the step
• Step onto a BOSU and off
• Step onto a balance disc and off- can line up two or three discs
• Step onto a folded beach towel and off of it
• Walk up and down hills

Conclusion:

The findings of the current investigation suggest that motor differences in postural control are present in children diagnosed with ASD under both static and dynamic postural challenges. In the comments below, please post how you were able to challenge your child’s balance dynamically.