Balance on one leg
You will stand on one leg while looking at a still point. Small shifts make keeping your weight above the supporting foot harder than simply lifting the other one.
- Move
- Starter
- About 10 minutes
Grown-up needed: yes for checking the space and supervising movement
This page adds a grown-up beside you and a clear nonslip floor to what the film lists, so follow the page.
What you need
- A clear nonslip floor
- A timer
- A grown-up beside you
The rule
No hopping. No holding on.
How to do it
- Ask a grown-up to check the floor and stand nearby.
- Choose a still point at a comfortable eye level.
- Stand upright with both feet settled.
- Lift one foot a small distance and begin the timer.
- Put it down as soon as you wobble or feel uncomfortable.
- Record the comfortable attempt rather than chasing a target.
Why it works
Balance involves keeping your body’s weight over its support while making small corrections. Your eyes provide information about position and movement, alongside signals from your inner ears and sensations from muscles and joints. Looking at a still point can help some people use that visual information. Standing on one foot reduces the support area, which makes the corrections more demanding. A single timed attempt is not a health assessment, and comfort takes priority over reaching the film’s demonstration time.
Make it harder
- Compare comfortable attempts on each side.
- Describe which small corrections you noticed.
- Predict how a wider two-foot stance changes the support area.
Ask Taz
- Why is one foot a smaller support than two?
- Why can a still point help balance?
- Why does my body make small corrections?
For grown-ups
A grown-up stays beside the child, with a steady support available for stopping safely. Holding on ends this rule’s attempt, but is always the right choice when needed. Keep eyes open and do not add unstable surfaces. Ask at dinner: “What helped you notice a wobble before you put your foot down?”
Taz is an AI and can be wrong, so stay close by. Read how safety works on Taz.
Show us yours
Film your hands and what you made, not your face or name. Ask a grown-up before posting anywhere else.
Questions parents ask
Does the child need to reach the film’s target?
No. The film shows an example, not a required performance. Begin with a short comfortable attempt and stop whenever needed. The useful result is a description of what happened, and the stated time estimates preparation and discussion as well as the activity.
Can we adapt the movement?
Yes. Choose a comfortable version with a grown-up, or discuss the film instead of doing the action. Say clearly when the adaptation changes the stated challenge rule. Avoid making the activity faster, longer or less stable simply to make it harder.
Do we need to share a video?
No. Talking about the attempt at home is enough. Follow the privacy line above for any optional sharing.
More to try
See all Taz Challenges, or look through the science labs. One place for every why. Ask for early access at aitaz.com