About this Treatment
Some children have a harder time understanding movement and where their body is in space. The Astronaut Training Program is a sensory-based therapy designed to strengthen the vestibular system — the inner-ear system that helps with balance, movement, and spatial awareness. When this system isn’t functioning well, children may find it challenging to focus, move smoothly, manage their emotions, or feel at ease in daily routines.
Many children who benefit from this programme experience difficulties such as:
- Trouble concentrating or staying on task
- Poor balance, clumsiness, or challenges with fine/gross motor skills
- Disorganisation or difficulty planning and completing tasks
- Sudden emotional reactions or unpredictable behaviour
- Sensitivity to movement (swings, lifts, heights, spinning)
- Frequent dizziness or motion sickness
- Confusion about left vs. right or unclear hand dominance
These challenges can indicate an underactive or inefficient vestibular system, which affects not only physical movement but also learning, behaviour, posture, emotional regulation, and overall alertness.
Why the Vestibular System Matters
The vestibular system provides the brain with continuous information about body position and movement — whether the child is standing, tilting, spinning, jumping, or lying down. It allows children to:
- Maintain balance and upright posture
- Coordinate their eyes while reading or writing
- Feel safe and grounded in space
- Regulate their level of alertness
- Understand their body’s position and movements
When the vestibular system is not functioning well, children may experience challenges in school (reading, spelling, handwriting, maths), difficulties with coordination, and increased behavioural or emotional responses.
The Astronaut Training Program helps integrate the vestibular, visual, and auditory systems so they work together more efficiently — creating a calmer, more organised, and more confident child.
Our Process
1. Occupational Therapy Assessment
We begin by assessing your child’s vestibular, visual, and auditory responses — including balance, motor planning, visual tracking, and tolerance for movement.
2. Individualised Astronaut Training Plan
Based on your child’s needs, we design a personalised programme that includes controlled head movements, graded rotation, visual tracking exercises, and rhythmic auditory cues.
3. Therapy Sessions
Sessions are fun, motivating, and carefully structured. Your child may engage in:
- Rotating on an astronaut board
- Timed head movements (tilting, turning, nodding)
- Visual tracking and focusing tasks
- Rhythmic sound-based activities
- Balance, postural, and spatial awareness challenges
These exercises stimulate the vestibular system, helping the brain organise movement, balance, and sensory input more effectively.
4. Home Support (when appropriate)
Some elements of the programme can be practised at home with guidance. Activities are customisable, so they’re accessible for children with a wide range of abilities.
5. Ongoing Monitoring
Your therapist continually adapts the exercises to ensure they remain safe, effective, and well-matched to your child’s progress.
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