I'll never forget the day I realised my son was struggling on the playground. Most kids were laughing and pumping their legs while relaxing on the swing, but my little guy? He was agitated after just a few seconds. It broke my heart to see him so frustrated.
But you know what? That swing became our ticket to an amazing adventure together where my son's story is now helping other kids all around the world.
See, I'd been reading about this thing called the vestibular system since I started working in falls prevention as an Exercise Physiologist nearly 20 years ago. It's basically our body's balance centre, tucked away in our inner ear. Turns out, it's super important for all sorts of things - not just keeping us steady, but helping us focus, read, stay upright without tripping over, and even play sports.
So there we were, facing this swing challenge. I knew we had to keep at it, not just for his early development, but most importantly for falls prevention as an adult, but how do you get a kid to do something that's hard for them? That's when I had an idea: basketball cards.
My son loved basketball, so we made a deal. A few minutes on the swing earned him a new card. We distracted him from his dizziness by chatting about the basketball cards that he was swinging to try and reach and grab. Some days were tough. There were tears (from both of us, if I'm honest). Some days he accused me of punishing him, while I tried to desperately to reason with him for just 20 seconds to 2 minutes at a time. But we kept going, one swing, one second, one minute at a time.
And then, little by little, we started seeing changes. Not just on the swing, but everywhere. His balance got better. He could focus more easily on his puzzles and building blocks. But the real wow moment? It happened on the basketball court.
Picture this: my son, who used to get dizzy on the swing, would often complain of feeling dizzy when he tried to do a layup. As he lifted his head up to look at the backboard, bammm, the ring would spin.
We worked together on his dizziness for months and months. Designing all different head movement and visual tracking ideas that would aim to help him one day make a layup without seeing double.
I'll never forget the day he ran off of the court. So much excitement on his face. Like he had won a grand final. He came running up to me and said "Mum! The ring didn't spin!" I was brought to tears. The pride and joy on his face? I'll treasure that forever.
But it wasn't just about basketball. My son started talking about feeling more "connected" - like his body and mind were finally on the same team. He could try that flying fox at the park now without worrying he'll throw up in front of his friends. Reading became easier. Things that used to stress him out didn't seem so bad anymore.
This little vestibular journey brought us closer than I ever imagined.
Now, I'm not saying the swing is some magic cure-all. Every kid is different. But I learned that movement - activities like swinging, spinning, or just playing catch - it's not just about having fun or staying fit. It's brain fuel. It helps kids learn, focus, and feel good in their own body.
For any parents out there whose kids are having a tough time - maybe they're struggling to read, or they're always fidgeting in class, or they just seem uncomfortable in their own bodies - don't lose hope. Sometimes the solution comes from unexpected places. For us, it was a playground swing and some basketball cards.
If you're curious about trying more movement activities with your kids, we've put together some ideas in our "Let's Move" program. It's full of fun exercises that can help with balance, focus, and coordination.
Remember, every child's path is different. What worked for my son might not be the answer for yours. But I really believe that movement is powerful. It might just be the key to unlocking your child's potential.
So next time you're at the playground, give that swing a second look. It might seem simple, but in our family, it changed everything.
Who knows? It might just lead to some slam dunks in your family's life too - on and off the court.
