Movement anchors learning - but how?

Did you ever wonder why kids, who seemingly want to pay attention, fall out of their chair while working in the classroom? Or why some children are always moving and cannot stay still? Their underperforming vestibular system is either not providing adequate feedback to maintain posture or sending them signals to activate the system through movement. How does this idea fit with the common notion that “movement anchors learning”?

Through decades of working with children, it has become increasingly evident that the vestibular system is the foundation on which learning becomes possible. Through its connections to the visual and auditory systems, as well as the thrust for myelination leading to the frontal cortex, the vestibular system drives learning and memory, while supporting our attention and engagement.

The basis for this research emerged from my observations of children’s learning in response to vestibular interventions. As children become increasingly more sedentary in a low-risk landscape, it is more important than ever for occupational therapists in school based or pediatric OT to provide quality, evidence-based treatment focused on improving vestibular maturation to support learning and communication.

A high prevalence of children’s vestibular dysfunction remains undetected and untreated (Li et al, 2016), manifesting challenges relating to learning and communication. A historical dearth of knowledge and evidence supporting children’s vestibular maturation has been the inspiration for creating vestibulotherapy.org. Through evidence from contemporary neuroscience and 20+ years of clinical observations, vestibulotherapy.org will provide meaningful resources and learning opportunities for parents, teachers, therapists, and medical professionals to increase awareness and intervention of children’s delayed vestibular maturation, supporting positive outcomes in roles of learning and communication.