Today, we’re welcoming a special guest once again. We had the pleasure of speaking with Kateryna Hershtun, a neurologist and mom. We asked her to share her perspective on using a balance beam for home and suggest some exercises that are just as fun and engaging for kids as swinging or running around.
About the Balance Beam
What is a balance beam? It’s a piece of sports and play equipment commonly used in developmental classrooms, early learning centers, Montessori environments, and Waldorf schools. But it’s also something that can be used right at home!
Most balance beam exercises are simple to perform, so parents can easily introduce them to their children. A balance beam is a narrow wooden board that children can walk on, but some designs use pegs instead of a plank. Both options offer unique movement opportunities, and Kateryna Hershtun explains the different ways to use each in her expert commentary.
Balance Beams from WoodandHearts: Features & Benefits
At WoodandHearts, you’ll find several types of balance beams:
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Balance Beam Set (available with Poles or Planks)
This versatile model allows you to stack elements on top of each other for compact storage. You can also use this feature for creative games, building a mini playhouse, and more.
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Balance Beam for Kids (available in straight or zigzag designs)
The zigzag version is especially fun! You can create a winding path, adjust the board’s height, and tailor the challenge level to your child’s skills and confidence. Plus, the wooden components of the Zigzag set can double as educational toys: build pyramids, shapes, letters, or creative structures!
Balance Beam Exercises: Neurologist’s Tips
Kateryna Hershtun, a neuro-pedagogue, has put together a list of her favorite balance beam exercises that she uses in her practice — and that are perfect to try at home. Let’s hear from her:
Walking on a balance beam seems like the obvious activity, right? Yes — just walk and try to keep your balance. Sounds simple, but these tools offer so much more than meets the eye! From a toddler’s first steps and high-stepping at age 2 to more complex coordination tasks for early school-age kids, balance beams support both present development and future learning. They improve posture, body confidence, focus, and cognitive flexibility.
1. High Step Over the Beam
This is a serious challenge for little ones! Not just stepping around it or dragging a foot — the goal is to raise the knee high and take a clean step.
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Develops: vestibular system, coordination, proprioception.
2. Balancing While Holding an Object
Kids walk the path while carrying something in their hands, or even balancing it on their head. It adds a new level of challenge!
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Develops: balance, body control, focus, determination.
3. Tying Knots on Poles (Sensory Ribbon Game)
This type of balance beam exercise works with positional concepts (up, down, left, right) and fine motor precision.
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Develops: bilateral integration, spatial thinking, logic, finger dexterity.
4. Passing a Beanbag Under the Planks
Set up 3 beams vertically, and have the child pass a small bag under each one, crossing their body’s midline.
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Develops: coordination, midline crossing, spatial awareness.
5. Feathers and Associations
Place colorful feathers on the beams. As the child walks, they name a fruit that matches each color and try to blow the feather away.
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Develops: breath control, speech, associative thinking, attention, balance, vestibular input.
6. Building Shapes with Planks
Let your little one build a triangle, square, or line by joining the planks together.
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Develops: spatial thinking, creativity, geometric understanding, and motor planning.
7. Cones for “Clever Feet”
Place small cones of two different colors along the balance beam. Then, while walking on a balance beam:
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Blue cones must be knocked over with the left foot;
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Yellow cones with the right foot.
It looks like a game, but actually requires precise coordination and body control.
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Develops: balance, proprioception, cross-lateral movement, and the ability to differentiate left from right.
8. Complex Motor Tracks with Switching
Create tracks where both feet move at once, with varied movement challenges that cross the body’s midline and require active switching. These become true brain workouts through movement, ideal for kids ages 4+.
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Develops: bilateral coordination, body awareness, cognitive flexibility, and motor control.
Why Do I Recommend These Materials to Everyone?
I have more than one reason to encourage families to use this kind of equipment, even at home. Balance beam exercises are incredibly easy to do with your child, even without a specialist’s supervision. And the benefits are truly invaluable. Here are a few more key points:
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Compact: easy to store, even in a small space.
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Lightweight – kids can carry the pieces themselves and build their own courses.
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Versatile – suitable for children ages 2 to 7+.
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Peg-style beams can help prevent flat feet (valgus foot).
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Natural, reliable, and effective.
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These beams are not just toys, they are real tools for development through movement and play.
If you’re looking for something meaningful and long-lasting (not just a one-time distraction), I wholeheartedly recommend them!
A big thank-you to Kateryna Hershtun for sharing these brilliant ideas and exercises with us. Want more tips and inspiration? Check out our article: Mastering the Playground Equipment Balance Beam: Benefits and Usage Tips
And don’t forget to follow us on social media! We regularly share fun games, practical exercises, and helpful parenting insights. Our community is warm, welcoming, and full of like-minded parents — you’re always welcome to join.
