Movement is so important for all children. It's through movement that they learn to make connections between their environment and their bodies. It's through movement that they learn! Wooden balance beams are all the rage in parenting communities because they help toddlers learn to move and support balance. For years we have enjoyed our DIY wooden balance beam for toddlers.
Nora is a mover. Like most young toddlers, she's just on the move. Busy, busy, busy. This wooden balance beam helps to support her vestibular system, helps her reach maximum effort, and is just plain fun.
DIY Balance Beam for Montessori Toddler
Finding ways to keep her satisfied can be difficult and expensive. While there are many options on the market now for toddler balance beams, this provides an easy and affordable way to add a gross motor challenge to your environment. When I came across the idea of a DIY balance beam from one of my favorite bloggers Amy from Midwest Montessori, I knew we had to make one of our own!
Make Your Own DIY Balance Beam for Toddlers
This project is so simple! It's just some 2x4s and some screws. We bought two small boards. We cut into two 12 inches long and one 47 inch long pieces. After sanding down all the pieces to avoid splinters, the supports were screwed into place. And, that's it!
It's the perfect way to provide a cheap, gross motor challenge to Nora. She was a bit apprehensive at first, but she's coming around to it! Plus, it provided a easy step stool and practice stepping up and down from a single step - a skill Nora enjoyed trying for a long time.
Henry, at 4-years-old, also benefited from this simple gross motor opportunity. He loved it right away and spent the whole morning testing it out. So even if you have a preschool or older child, a simple DIY balance beam is a great addition to your Montessori home.
Even years after this post was originally written, our DIY wooden balance beam remains a popular choice in our Montessori home. It was a simple DIY with a long lasting, and high impact! Definitely a project to try with your toddler or preschooler!
Do you have any great gross motor DIYs in your home?
