Rewiring the Brain Through Movement and Why Posture and Balance Matter in Child Development
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Lara Cawthra is a Paediatric Chiropractor and MNRI® Core Specialist who supports infants and children with gentle, neurologically focused care. She’s passionate about helping kids build strong foundations for movement, learning, and regulation while empowering parents every step of the way.
As parents, we often think of learning as something that happens at a desk through books, language, and structured lessons. Learning actually begins much deeper in the body. Before a child can comfortably focus, communicate, or engage with the world, their brain needs a reliable map of where their body is in space. That map is built through movement.
Let’s look at how movement helps “rewire” the brain, why posture and balance are foundational, and what this means for supporting children in their development.
The brain-body connection
The brain is not just a thinking organ, it is also a movement organ. Every action a child takes, from reaching for a toy to sitting upright, requires coordination between the brain and body. These repeated movements build and strengthen neural pathways, a process known as neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt through experience.
For children with learning differences, including autistic children, differences in sensory processing and motor coordination are common. This can affect how the brain interprets signals from the body, making it harder to develop a clear sense of position, movement, and control. Movement, when used intentionally, becomes a powerful tool to support this development.
Understanding body awareness (proprioception)
Body awareness, also known as proprioception, is the sense that helps us perceive the position and movement of our body parts without the need to look. This sense allows a child to perform everyday actions with ease, such as sitting upright without slumping, using the appropriate amount of force when holding objects, moving smoothly and confidently, and coordinating both sides of the body.
When proprioception is underdeveloped, children may struggle with physical coordination. They might appear clumsy, avoid movement, or, conversely, seek out intense physical input, such as crashing into things or jumping. This behavior is not necessarily a sign of misbehavior—it is the brain’s way of trying to gather the sensory input it needs to better understand body positioning and movement. Building and strengthening proprioception helps children gain better control over their bodies and enhances overall motor skills.
Why posture comes first
Posture serves as the foundation for nearly every learning activity. When a child maintains stable posture, the brain can focus its energy on thinking and processing information, rather than constantly working to keep the body upright. This allows for better attention, learning, and overall performance.
However, when posture is weak or unstable, it can lead to a variety of challenges. For example, sitting still becomes an effort, as the body struggles to maintain balance. This can result in a loss of attention, as the child becomes distracted by their body's instability. Fine motor skills, such as writing or using utensils, can also be more difficult, as the body isn't adequately supported. In some cases, breathing and regulation may be affected, further disrupting the child's ability to focus and engage.
Good posture relies on core strength and the integration of various sensory systems, particularly the vestibular system (which controls balance) and proprioception (the sense of body position). For autistic children, improving posture isn't just about "sitting up straight," it’s about strengthening the foundational systems that help the body maintain an upright position naturally and effortlessly. By focusing on these underlying systems, posture improvement can become a natural part of the child's physical development.
The role of balance (vestibular system)
The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, plays a crucial role in detecting movement, gravity, and head position. It is essential for balance and coordination, eye tracking (which is important for reading), spatial orientation, and emotional regulation. When the vestibular system is not functioning optimally, whether under- or over-responsive, it can affect a child’s ability to engage in everyday activities.
For instance, a child with an under-responsive vestibular system may avoid activities like swinging, climbing, or walking on uneven surfaces. On the other hand, an over-responsive vestibular system might lead a child to seek constant movement, such as spinning, in an attempt to self-regulate. These imbalances can also impact coordination, leaving the child feeling "off balance," and may lead to difficulties focusing or remaining calm.
Importantly, balance is not just a physical aspect, it directly influences a child's attention, behavior, and readiness for learning. Strengthening the vestibular system is critical for supporting a child’s overall development and well-being.
Why posture and balance are the starting point
Think of learning as building a house. Cognitive skills, such as reading, writing, and problem-solving, are the upper floors of this structure. However, posture and balance act as the crucial foundation. Without a stable base, the brain has to work harder just to manage the body. This extra effort takes away valuable resources that could otherwise be used for higher-level learning tasks.
Additionally, sensory input can become overwhelming or confusing without proper balance, making it harder for a child to focus and engage with the material. Instead of learning becoming an enjoyable and rewarding experience, it may feel frustrating and challenging.
By strengthening posture and balance, you're not delaying academic progress. In fact, you're making learning more accessible by ensuring the brain can focus on the important tasks, such as reading and problem-solving, without the distraction of managing an unstable base.
Movement as a tool for rewiring
Intentional movement plays a vital role in organizing the brain. By engaging in repetitive, rhythmical, and varied movements, new neural connections are created, enhancing communication between different brain regions. The following types of movement can be particularly beneficial:
1. Core and postural activities
Engaging in activities like crawling, climbing, and animal walks helps strengthen the core muscles and improve posture. Sitting on unstable surfaces, such as a therapy ball, further challenges the body’s balance, while hanging or pulling activities encourage stability and control.
2. Balance-based movement
Balance activities, such as walking on uneven surfaces, using balance beams or stepping stones, and swinging (both linear and gentle rotational movements), enhance coordination and spatial awareness. These movements support the development of the vestibular system, which is crucial for balance and emotional regulation.
3. Proprioceptive input (“heavy work”)
Proprioceptive input activities, including pushing, pulling, carrying, jumping, and safely crashing into cushions, stimulate the body’s sensory system and improve body awareness. Resistance activities, like carrying weighted objects, also provide valuable input that helps regulate sensory processing.
4. Cross-body movements
Activities that cross the body’s midline, such as reaching across the body, dancing, skipping, and crawling patterns, are especially effective in fostering coordination and neural development. These movements enhance the brain's ability to integrate information from both sides of the body, boosting motor skills and cognitive function.
Engaging in these activities helps the brain build a clearer internal map of the body, ultimately improving coordination, regulation, and readiness to learn.
What this means for parents
If your child struggles with focus, coordination, or sitting still, it may not be due to a lack of effort or ability. Instead, their nervous system might need additional support to organize sensory input. To help your child navigate these challenges, here are some effective strategies:
Start by prioritizing movement before seated tasks. This approach can help them regulate their sensory input and prepare their body and mind for learning. Additionally, break learning into active segments, allowing your child to stay engaged and focused without overwhelming them with long periods of sitting.
It’s also essential to observe your child’s sensory preferences. Do they seek out movement, or do they avoid it? Understanding their needs will help you tailor activities to support their development. Create safe opportunities for physical exploration, allowing your child to experience movement in ways that feel natural and enjoyable for them.
Finally, collaborate with professionals trained in biomechanics, body alignment, and neurodevelopment. These experts can guide you in understanding your child’s unique needs and create personalized strategies. Ensure that your practitioner is well-versed in child development, as children are not just smaller versions of adults. They should also have knowledge of how the brain and body develop over time, particularly from birth.
Above all, it’s important to view movement not as a break from learning but as an essential component of the learning process. By making movement a priority, you can help your child build a strong foundation for growth and success.
Final thoughts
Rewiring the brain does not happen through pressure or repetition alone, it happens through meaningful, embodied experiences. For children with learning differences, autistic children, movement is often the gateway to connection, regulation, and learning.
By starting with posture and balance, you are giving your child something powerful: a stable foundation from which everything else can grow.
As a well-rounded Holistic Health Care Professional, Lara is able to put the elements of posture, nutrition, and neurology together so that a tailor-made programme can be designed for your child. Helping your child to reach their full potential.
Join the free community with Lara at Rebalance - Holistic Child Health for discussion and education about primitive reflexes, child development, posture, balance and gut health.
Read more from Lara Cawthra
Lara Cawthra, Paediatric Chiropractor and MNRI Core Specialist
Lara Cawthra is a Paediatric Chiropractor and MNRI® Core Specialist who loves helping kids grow, move, and thrive. She works with babies, children, and their families, using gentle tonal chiropractic care and MNRI® techniques to support healthy neurological development. Lara has a particular interest in supporting children with developmental delays, sensory challenges, and neurodivergent needs, always focusing on what each child needs to feel safe, regulated, and confident in their body. Known for her warm, down-to-earth approach, Lara is passionate about empowering parents with knowledge and practical tools so they feel supported every step of the way.
References:
Ayres, A. J. (2005). Sensory Integration and the Child. Western Psychological Services.
Bundy, A. C., Lane, S. J., & Murray, E. A. (2002). Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice. F.A. Davis.
Shumway-Cook, A., & Woollacott, M. H. (2017). Motor Control: Translating Research into Clinical Practice. Wolters Kluwer.
Hadders-Algra, M. (2010). Variation and variability: Key words in human motor development. Physical Therapy, 90(12), 1823–1837.
Pfeiffer, B., et al. (2011). Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(1), 76–85.
Leisman, G., Moustafa, A. A., & Shafir, T. (2016). Thinking, walking, talking: Integratory motor and cognitive brain function. Frontiers in Public Health, 4, 94.
