Exploring Vestibular and Proprioceptive Movement Outdoors

We have been continuing to develop our outdoor play environment by focusing on how we can offer rich opportunities for our Year 2 children to explore movement through activities that support both vestibular and proprioceptive development. Using open-ended resources such as tyres, barrels, crates and planks, children climb, balance, jump, push, lift, tip and tilt, engaging their whole bodies in purposeful play. These experiences help to strengthen core muscles, develop co-ordination and build spatial awareness. Vestibular movement, such as balancing and tipping and tilting, supports children’s sense of balance and orientation, while proprioceptive activities like carrying, lifting and climbing provide essential feedback to muscles and joints. Together, these forms of physical play are vital for children’s overall development, supporting not only physical strength and control but also concentration, confidence and emotional regulation.