You know that kid who literally cannot stop spinning? Or the one who freaks out every time you try to get them on a swing? Yeah, I see that confusion in parents’ eyes all the time at our center. They come in thinking their child is just being difficult or hyperactive, and then we talk about the vestibular system—and suddenly, everything clicks into place.
So What’s This Vestibular Thing Anyway?
Okay, let me break this down without the medical jargon. Your inner ear has these tiny structures that basically act like your body’s motion detector. Every single time you move your head, tilt sideways, jump, or even just lean forward to tie your shoe—this system is firing off messages to your brain saying “Hey, we’re moving left!” or “Whoa, we’re upside down!”
I’ll never forget this one kid, Bilal. Five years old, driving his poor mother absolutely crazy because he’d climb everything—the fridge, the walls, furniture, you name it. She was at her wit’s end, thought he had some serious behavioral problem. Turns out? His vestibular system was starving for input. That climbing wasn’t naughtiness—it was his brain literally screaming “I need more movement to feel okay!”
Why Should You Even Care About This?
Here’s the thing nobody tells you when you’re searching for therapies for autism in Pakistan—fixing movement problems can actually help with stuff that seems totally unrelated. Like, did you know that a kid who can’t process movement properly might struggle with reading? Sounds crazy, right?
But think about it. Reading means your eyes have to smoothly track across a page while your head stays still. If your vestibular system is confused, your eyes and head can’t coordinate properly. So the kid who can’t sit still during homework time? Might not be a focus issue at all. Could be their body literally can’t organize itself to sit and read.
And emotions? Oh man, emotions are huge here. Imagine you’re on a boat that’s constantly rocking, but nobody else seems to notice. You’d be pretty anxious and grumpy too, right? That’s what some kids with vestibular issues are dealing with every single day.
What This Actually Looks Like
Let me paint you a real picture. I worked with this girl, Ayesha, who would completely melt down during PE class. Her teacher thought she was just being difficult or lazy. But get this—Ayesha’s vestibular system was so sensitive that running around with other kids felt like being in a chaotic storm. The unpredictable movements, the bumping, the speed changes—her brain couldn’t handle it all.
Then there’s kids on the opposite end. Like Hamza, who my colleague works with at AOT Services Islamabad. This kid would spin and spin and spin until adults got dizzy just watching him. His grandmother was convinced something was seriously wrong. But actually? His system needed that intense spinning just to feel normal. What would make you and me throw up was giving him the sensory input he was desperately craving.
The Two Types (Sort Of)
Look, I’m going to simplify this because that’s what parents need—practical information, not a textbook.
The “I Need ALL The Movement” Kids: These are your climbers, your spinners, your “Mom, watch me do a backflip off the couch!” children. They’re not trying to give you a heart attack—their nervous system genuinely needs more intense movement than other kids. It’s like they’re constantly hungry, but for motion instead of food.
The “Please Don’t Make Me Move” Kids: Complete opposite. These kids act like the playground is a torture chamber. Swings? Terrifying. Slides? No way. Even walking on grass can freak them out because it’s uneven and unpredictable. Their system is way too sensitive, treating normal movement like it’s a threat.
And honestly? Most kids I see at the center are somewhere in between, or they’re weird mixes of both. Like they’ll seek certain movements but completely avoid others. Autism makes this even more complicated because sensory stuff is all over the place.
How Does Moving Around Actually Fix Things?
Alright, this is where it gets interesting. When we do the right movement activities—and I mean actually the RIGHT ones for that specific kid—we’re basically teaching their brain to process movement information better. It’s like… okay, imagine your WiFi signal is terrible and everything’s buffering. That’s their brain trying to process movement. Vestibular activities are like getting a better router—suddenly everything starts working smoother.
I had this one mom cry in my office. Not sad crying—happy crying. Her son had been in therapy for two months, lots of vestibular work. She said, “He ate dinner with us. The whole meal. He sat there and talked and ate and didn’t jump up once.” She couldn’t believe it. I could—I see this stuff work all the time.
Stuff You Can Actually Do at Home
You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership. Seriously. Some of the best vestibular activities happen right in your living room.
For the movement-seekers:
Get creative with animal walks. Make it fun—”Show me how a bear walks! Now a crab!” My own nephew loves when we do this, and he doesn’t even have vestibular issues. For kids who need it therapeutically, it’s gold.
Build obstacle courses with whatever you’ve got. Couch cushions to jump over, chairs to crawl under, spin in a circle three times, run to the next station. Make it a game, time them, let them beat their own record. They’re getting exactly what their system needs while having a blast.
Swinging is probably the single best thing you can do if you have access to a swing. Forward and back, side to side, spinning—let them experiment. Just obviously keep it safe. But the vestibular input from swinging? Unmatched.
For the movement-avoiders:
You’ve got to go slow with these kids. Push too hard and you’ll make it worse. Start super gentle—maybe just rocking together in a rocking chair while you read them a story. Pair something they love with tiny amounts of movement.
We do this thing with tape on the floor—just a straight line—and have them walk it like a tightrope. No height, totally safe, but they’re working on balance and getting comfortable with controlled movement. Then maybe eventually we introduce an actual low balance beam.
Even swinging can work, but let them completely control it. Maybe they start by just sitting on a still swing. That’s fine! Next time, maybe tiny movements. Baby steps. Literally every tiny bit of progress counts.
What We Actually Do at AOT
When families come looking for the best occupational therapist in Islamabad, or just searching for therapies for autism in Pakistan, we always—ALWAYS—check vestibular function. Why? Because I’ve personally seen kids make huge jumps in progress once we addressed their movement processing issues.
But here’s what we don’t do: random movement activities that look good but don’t actually target the problem. Every activity is chosen specifically for that child’s needs. We watch how they respond, we adjust on the fly, and we teach parents how to keep it going at home. Because twice a week in therapy isn’t enough—this stuff needs to happen daily.
Working at AOT Services Islamabad has taught me that parents are the real therapists. We’re just the guides showing you what your kid needs and how to provide it. The real work happens at home, during play, woven into your daily routine.
When You Need to Call in the Professionals
Home activities are great, but sometimes you need expert eyes on the situation. If your kid has extreme reactions to movement—like panic-level fear or such intense seeking that they’re hurting themselves—that’s when you need professional help.
Or if they’re way behind other kids their age in basic motor skills. Or if the movement stuff is taking over their life so much they can’t function at school or home.
That’s where places like AOT come in. We create programs that combine vestibular work with everything else the child needs. Because kids aren’t just one issue—they’re whole people with interconnected systems. Fix the vestibular stuff and suddenly communication improves, behavior settles, learning becomes easier. It’s all connected.
Here’s the Real Deal
Movement isn’t just about being physically active. It’s about your child’s brain getting the information it desperately needs to make sense of where their body is and what’s happening around them.
That kid who can’t stop moving? They’re not trying to drive you crazy. That kid who refuses to move? They’re not being stubborn. Both are showing you exactly what their vestibular system needs—you just have to know how to read the signs.
The amazing part? Kids respond to this stuff. Like, really respond. Their whole world shifts when their vestibular system starts working better. Suddenly everything isn’t so overwhelming or understimulating. They can finally just be kids.
If you’re in Islamabad and you’re seeing these struggles with your child, seriously consider reaching out to AOT Services. Sometimes understanding that your kid’s behavior is actually their body asking for help—that changes everything.
Because every kid deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin, confident moving through the world. And sometimes getting there starts with something as simple as the right kind of spinning, swinging, or jumping.
Trust me, I’ve seen it change lives. It might just change yours too.
