Singing for Language & Movement: Active Songs to Support Your Child’s Vestibular Needs

Does your child love to hang upside down from the couch? Do they often spin, jump, or tip their head back in a downward dog pose? These movements may be their way of seeking vestibular input—the sensory system that helps with balance, coordination, and body awareness. Instead of redirecting these natural urges, why not embrace them through song and movement?

When we combine music with movement, we’re not just helping children get the sensory input they crave—we’re also boosting their language development!

Singing for Language & Movement: Active Songs to Support Your Child’s Vestibular Needs: Songs with predictable lyrics, gestures, and actions encourage children to imitate words and movements, strengthening both communication and motor skills. Many children even learn to use gestures from songs to request that you sing them again!

Mother and child singing Pat-a-Cake together

My Favorite Song for Vestibular Input & Language Learning

One of my all-time favorite songs for movement and language is "I'm a Little Teapot."

Here’s how I make it engaging and interactive with toddlers:

🎶 I'm a little teapot, short and stout👉 (I hold the child securely in my arms, providing gentle pressure for body awareness and co-regulation.)

🎶 Here is my handle, here is my spout👉 (I model gestures, making one arm into a "handle" with my elbow out and hand on my hip, and then switch holding the child to my other side so my other hand can become the spout, helping children associate words with actions—building both vocabulary and imitation skills!)

🎶 And when I get all steamed up, hear me shout!👉 (I gently shake my body side to side, like I've got steam rising in my body, providing vestibular input that encourages excitement and engagement.)

🎶 Tip me over and pour me out!👉 (I gently tip the child downward, while supporting their head, supporting movement exploration and body awareness.)

Immediately after, I "reset" their sensory system with deep pressure squeezes—firm hugs or gentle squeezes to the arms and legs, as I label "squeeze, squeeze, squeeze"—which helps regulate their response to movement and prevents overstimulation.

*To note, if the child dislikes this, put on your investigative hat to determine why. Are they hungry, tired, sick? Do they dislike the movement? Do they dislike the song? You are the key to figuring out what works best for you and your child. You've got this!

Other Fun Songs for Movement & Language

If your child loves "I'm a Little Teapot," try these:

• 🎵 "Ring Around the Rosie" – Spinning and falling support balance and anticipation skills.

• 🎵 "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" – Rocking back and forth together, as you face each other to sing, encourages coordination and rhythm.

• 🎵 "Wheels on the Bus" – Gestures like “the wipers go swish” help connect words with actions, strengthening communication.

By pairing singing with movement, you’re engaging the whole body in learning, helping your child develop both language and motor coordination in a fun, natural way.

Does your child have a favorite song that gets them moving and talking? Let us know in the comments! 🎶✨

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