10 Different Ways to Walk Across a Balance Beam

Want to challenge a child’s balance?  Trying walking and moving in different ways across a beam.  If you don’t have a balance beam, you can put a long strip of painter’s tape on the floor, tape pieces of paper together, or draw a line outdoors using sidewalk chalk. Head outdoors, and use balance beams that are all around you such as sidewalk curbs or a log in the forest.

10 Different Ways to Walk Across a Balance Beam

Here are 10 different ways to challenge a child’s balance. Of course, a child can walk forwards across a balance beam, but here are 10 more ways to mix up beam walks. Remember, if your child is just learning, start with a beam very low to the ground or on the ground.

1.  Walk across the beam with hands over your head, out to the side or on your hips.

2.  Place small objects on the beam (ie beanbags) and the child has to step over the bean bags but stay on the beam.

3.  Move sideways, high kicks or backwards across the beam.

4.   Walk on your tiptoes or heels across the beam.

5.  Move across with both your hands and feet on the beam.

6.  Walk halfway across the beam, turn one full circle and continue across the beam.

7.  Walk across the beam balancing an object (ie bean bag or small book) on your head.

8.  Walk across the beam heel to toe.

9.  Walk across a beam to the beat of a metronome.

10.  Move like different animals across the beam.

More Balance Activities

Do you struggle to find printable balance exercises for kids? This digital download, Balance Activities and Progressions, includes 20 different balance activities along with 8 different balance progressions. 

Do you struggle to find printable balance exercises for kids? Created by Chanda Jothen, PT, this digital download, Balance Activities and Progressions, includes 20 different balance activities along with 8 different balance progressions.  BONUS! – Get 20 full sheet printables of the balance activities.

Read More About Balance Exercises

Does your child need to practice balance skills? There are many every day activities that help to strengthen children’s overall skills to maintain their balance. When children practice these types of skills all day long it is easier to see improvements. Check out these simple balance activities for kids.

Recent research was conducted to determine the effects of exercise programs in improving the balance skills of children with intellectual disabilities. Deficits in balance abilities can results in an increased risk for falls. Read more on evidence based balance exercises.

Want to challenge a child's balance on a beam walk?  Trying walking different ways across a beam. Here are 10 suggestions.