Fun and Easy Vestibular Play: Tunnel Play to Encourage Crawling
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Today, I’m excited to share a simple and engaging sensory play activity that targets the vestibular system—the system responsible for balance and movement! This is a fun and easy way to encourage vestibular play with your kiddos.
What is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, helps with balance and coordination. To activate it, we need movement in different directions—such as jumping, swinging, rolling, crawling, and hanging. Even activities like using a scooter board provide vestibular input!
Want to learn more? Check out my post: How the Vestibular System Affects Your Child’s Behavior.
Crawling: A Key Developmental Skill
Crawling isn’t just for babies—it’s essential for core strength, coordination, and fine motor development. But what if a child isn’t interested in crawling? Let’s make it fun!
Try this tunnel play activity to encourage crawling while working on balance, proprioception (body awareness), and fine motor skills!
Tunnel Play Activity
What You’ll Need:
- A play tunnel (ours is from IKEA)
- A small wooden bowl
- Baby wipes container
- Squeezable food pouch lids (or any small objects safe for little hands)
Set-Up & How to Play
Place the wooden bowl with lids at one end of the tunnel and the wipes container at the other.
Hand your child a lid and encourage them to crawl through the tunnel to drop it into the container.
Have them crawl back to get another lid and repeat!
This simple activity keeps kids engaged while working on crawling, balance, and hand-eye coordination.
Make It More Fun!
- Use different objects for sorting (try pom-poms or small toys).
- Add a counting or color-naming challenge for an extra cognitive boost!
- Place a pillow inside the tunnel for a gentle obstacle to encourage different movements.
Adding Vestibular Input: Tunnel Rolling
Once your child is comfortable, you can introduce rolling for added vestibular input:
Gently roll the tunnel from side to side while your child lies inside. Some kids LOVE this and will even initiate the movement themselves!
⚠️ Safety Tip: Always watch for signs of overstimulation, like flushed cheeks, dizziness, or becoming too quiet. If your child has a history of seizures, avoid this rolling activity.
If your child is a sensory seeker, you might notice them getting extra excited. Help them self-regulate by taking breaks as needed.
Skills This Activity Develops
✔ Vestibular Processing – crawling, rolling, and balancing
✔ Proprioception – body awareness from crawling and weight-bearing
✔ Bilateral Coordination – using both sides of the body together
✔ Fine & Gross Motor Skills – grasping objects, crawling, and strengthening muscles
✔ Visual-Motor Integration – hand-eye coordination while placing lids in the container
This is a great indoor activity that’s perfect for home or therapy sessions. Plus, it’s easy to adapt based on your child’s needs.
Would your child enjoy this? Let me know how it goes!
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Heather Greutman, COTA
Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.
i found your blog helpful…my youngest was diagnosed withASD tendencies and has been on early intervention therapy since she was 22mos old…recently, i witnessed her display the fight or flight response when she was on the gym ball, i almost cried on the spot as the teachers disregarded her tears and still continue with the activity even thru her wails…i wanted to smack someone right there and then, upon coming home i stumbled upon your blog through Scanlon Therapy in FB… I was relieved somehow knowing that I can do something to help her out and help myself as well (I easily become dizzy which too much movement and if am on high places). The activities you suggest are something I can do at home and know that these activities can help her gain focus and help with her behavior…I am a nurse and am struggling with how to best help my child, since i dont know where to start…You’re blog helps a lot…you are an angel on earth and am thankful that you;re willing to share your knowledge…
Isn’t it great when such a simple activity can encourage them to crawl? 😉 Love this idea!
Tunnels are awesome for kids of all ages. We have one I like to pull out on indoor days the kids always enjoy it.
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I love this idea – we use our tunnel from IKEA all the time. With twins they are always keen to chase the other one through it!
We don’t have a tunnel – we used to, but it died after 15 years of play – I think making games into a challenge can really give achild a sense of achievement with something very simple 🙂
My girls love playing in tunnels. We have quite a few of them now and when I hook them all up we have a nice tunnel maze to crawl around in.
Great tips! I’m so glad I found your blog today. I love discovering a new OT blog to follow 🙂
My 3 and 7 year olds LOVE our tunnel! We’ve been using it as part of an obstacle course before we start school time. Great idea to add carrying an object through the tunnel.