Method · Astronaut Training
A playful, sound-guided movement programme that trains balance, eye control and listening to work together: the foundations for sitting upright, looking steadily and moving with confidence.
What it is & why
Astronaut Training is a protocol developed by occupational therapists Mary Kawar and Sheila Frick. It trains the vestibular system, the balance sense in the inner ear, together with vision and hearing: the three senses that tell a child where they are in space.
Through short, carefully dosed rotations in different head positions, combined with rhythmic sound and simple looking games, the brain practises linking movement, sight and sound. When these work together, children often find it easier to hold their posture, keep their eyes steady on a task and stay regulated.
The how & the why
Developed by occupational therapists Mary Kawar and Sheila Frick, the protocol combines controlled rotations in different head positions with sound-activated activities and visual tasks, in a set sequence that is adjusted to each child’s responses.
Balance, vision and hearing inform each other. When they are out of step, a child may struggle to sit upright, follow a line of text or tolerate movement. Training them together helps the brain build a steadier sense of space; small studies report better balance and posture.
Candidacy
Children who find balance, posture, eye control or movement difficult: for example children with coordination difficulties, low muscle tone or sensory processing differences, or after a long stay in hospital. Your therapist assesses whether it fits your child.
Yes, when it is dosed and supervised by a trained therapist. Spinning affects the nervous system strongly, so we keep rotations short, watch for signs such as paleness, sweating or nausea, and stop or adapt straight away.
Parts of the programme can be continued at home once you have been shown how. You get a short, clear home plan that we check at every review.
Usually once a child can sit with support and join in with play. We decide on the right start together after an assessment.
Astronaut Training is widely used by occupational therapists, but the research is still small. Studies so far show improvements in balance and posture, and the best dose is still being studied. We measure your child’s progress so you can see what it changes.
“When balance, eyes and ears work together, a child can sit steady and look.”
— The ORCA Method
Part of The ORCA Method
Every method at Apexa is one instrument in a larger whole — see how NISE-Stim fits the overall ORCA architecture.
Part of one architecture
Astronaut Training works best inside the ORCA structure: assessed at the start, combined with active movement therapy and re-measured, so you can see what it changes.
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