Kristin Langley, Early Learning Lead Teacher • Waldorf School, Louisville,

The children have loved the WhirlyGoRounds. I introduced it in our morning circle and let them all have a turn (every single child wanted to try it), and then I pulled it out during free play as an option for the children to self-select. I initially had to help them take turns and monitor the time as some children would have stayed on it indefinitely.

I did have children who would ask to use it consistently and seemed to "know" when they needed a movement break. After we saw how it was helping certain students during those moments either to refocus or calm down, we also used it intentionally before and after clean up time - which seemed to settle the children and improve their attention on the task at hand.

I did not observe any negative effects, the children seemed to self-monitor their experience (after the initial popularity of something new). No one fell off or was sick from spinning so fast! All ages seemed to be drawn to it. Next year I am going to identify a few children who need some support with behavior or emotional regulation and plan a consistent time for regular use during the day and see what we observe over a 6 week time period.

Physical Benefits

• Balance and Coordination: Spinning helps children develop a sense of balance and spatial orientation. It strengthens the vestibular system, which is responsible for coordinating movement and balance. This translates into improved gross motor skills like walking, running, and jumping.
• Muscle Tone and Strength: The act of spinning engages core muscles and helps develop muscle strength, particularly in the neck and trunk. This is crucial for maintaining good posture and overall physical stability.
• Motor Planning: Spinning helps children plan and execute movements more effectively. It improves their ability to sequence movements and adapt to changes in their environment.

Cognitive Benefits

• Spatial Awareness: Spinning enhances a child's understanding of their body in relation to their surroundings. This improved spatial awareness is important for navigating the world and performing tasks that require spatial reasoning.
• Attention and Focus: While spinning can be alerting, it can also have a calming effect, helping some children focus their attention and filter out distractions.
• Bilateral Coordination: Spinning encourages the use of both sides of the body together, promoting bilateral coordination. This is essential for activities like writing, cutting, and using tools.

Sensory Benefits

• Sensory Integration: Spinning provides intense vestibular input, helping children integrate sensory information from their body and the environment. This can be particularly beneficial for children with sensory processing difficulties.
• Sensory Regulation: For some children, spinning can be calming and regulating, helping them manage sensory overload or anxiety. For others, it can be alerting and energizing.
• Body Awareness: Spinning provides strong proprioceptive input (awareness of body position), which contributes to a better understanding of where their body is in space.

Social and Emotional Benefits

• Emotional Regulation: Spinning can provide an outlet for releasing energy and emotions, helping children self-regulate.
• Confidence and Self-Esteem: Mastering spinning and enjoying the sensation can boost a child's confidence and sense of accomplishment.
• Social Interaction: Spinning can be a shared activity, promoting social interaction and play with peers.

Important Considerations:

• Safety First: Always supervise children during spinning activities. Ensure the environment is safe and free from obstacles.
• Individual Differences: Children respond to spinning differently. Some may love it, while others may find it overwhelming. Pay attention to each child's cues and adjust the activity accordingly.
• Duration and Intensity: Start with short periods of spinning and gradually increase the duration as the child tolerates. Avoid overstimulation.

By incorporating spinning activities into play, you can provide valuable vestibular stimulation that supports a child's overall development and well-being.

SOURCES:

General Vestibular System and Child Development:

• Sensory Integration and the Child by A. Jean Ayres (2005): This foundational text on sensory integration theory explains how the vestibular system contributes to a child's overall sensory processing, motor coordination, and emotional regulation.
• The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz (2005): This book explores sensory processing issues in children and highlights the importance of vestibular input for development. It discusses how activities like spinning can help children regulate their sensory systems.

Balance and Coordination:

• Vestibular Contributions to Balance Control and Locomotion by D.E. Angelaki and J.D. Dickman (2017): This research paper delves into the complex role of the vestibular system in maintaining balance and coordinating movement, skills that are refined through activities like spinning.

Spatial Awareness:

• Spinning to Learn: This article from KOMPAN Play Institute summarizes research on the connection between spinning and spatial awareness, suggesting that spinning can improve children's understanding of their body in space and their ability to navigate their environment. (https://www.kompan.com/en/int/research/kompan-play-institute/play-resources/spin-to-think)

Attention and Focus:

• The Effect of Physical Activity on Children's Executive Function: A Meta-Analysis by M. Verburgh, et al. (2014): While not specifically about spinning, this meta-analysis shows a strong link between physical activity, which includes vestibular stimulation, and improved executive functions like attention and focus.

Sensory Integration and Regulation:

• Sensory Modulation and Everyday Functioning in Children Ages 4-8 by W. Dunn (2001): This research explores the concept of sensory modulation and how it impacts a child's ability to regulate their responses to sensory input, including vestibular input from spinning.

It's important to acknowledge that more research specifically on the benefits of spinning in young children is needed. However, the existing research on vestibular stimulation, sensory integration, and child development provides a strong foundation for understanding why spinning can be such a valuable activity for kids.