This exercise is very similar to ground level balance beams. All you require is a masking tape that can be pulled off with ease. You may opt for the colorful and bright masking tape painters use. Roll out the tape on the floor or on the carpet until it makes a 6-foot straight line. Invite your child to walk quietly on this straight line and show him how to stretch out the hands to balance the body while putting one foot before the other on the line.
Teach your child to walk straight on this line without outstretched arms. The child will at first take long steps to retain balance. With the passage of time, teach the child to walk with smaller steps. The final part involves putting the toes to the heel. In the latter stages, have the child walk toe to heel without stretching out the arms for balance.
Some of the variations of this exercise include walking the line carrying a full tray or while carrying a jug of water or holding a ball. The child need not always walk on a straight line while carrying objects. He should be encouraged to walk on curved lines or on circles, triangles, squares or alphabets. This exercise will help the child to improve his posture, balance and fluid movement besides improving foot-eye coordination. Activities like these also improve sensory perceptions of the body towards its immediate environment.
Dr. Maria Montessori used music to inspire kids to master the art of walking on the line to develop their coordination and balance. Spontaneous movements like skipping, galloping, running and walking can be accompanied by music. Through practice kids will learn to alter their movements to the rhythms of the music. East European folk tunes are the perfect accompaniment for faster movements like running while marching tunes suit slower movements like walking.