THE AXES OF BALANCE
A simple way to understand behaviour, rhythm, and development.
Children aren’t “one thing.”
They move between opposites all day long — between closeness and independence, structure and freedom, energy and calm.
The Axes of Balance give staff and parents a clear, gentle language for these movements.
Each axis is made of two archetypes — two healthy ways a child can express themselves.
When a child gets stuck at one end, we see challenging behaviour.
When we offer the opposite experience, balance returns.
It’s not about fixing children.
It’s about helping them find rhythm again.
Axis 1: Belonging
Watcher ⇆ Friend
How children move between being with others and being by themselves.
Balance looks like: joining when ready, taking space when needed, staying connected without overwhelm.
Axis 2: Power
Rebel ⇆ Helper
How children hold autonomy and responsibility.
Balance looks like: saying “no” safely, helping with purpose, feeling powerful without overpowering others.
Axis 3: Order
Planner ⇆ Explorer
How children move between structure and freedom.
Balance looks like: enjoying routine but coping with change, planning ideas but staying playful.
Axis 4: Creation
Imagineer ⇆ Builder
How children move between ideas and action.
Balance looks like: dreaming freely, trying things out, and finishing what matters to them.
Axis 5: Belonging
Thinker ⇆ Mover
How children balance reflection with doing.
Balance looks like: thinking before acting, but not overthinking; learning through ideas and through movement.
Axis 6: Vitality
Joker ⇆ Energy
How children express emotion, playfulness, and arousal.
Balance looks like: sharing joy, expressing feelings safely, and being able to rest after excitement.
The Whole Child
Balanced, regulated, connected.
The Whole Child isn’t a perfect child.
It’s simply a child whose six axes are steady enough for them to move flexibly between experiences.
A Whole Child can:
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join in and step back
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lead and follow
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plan and play
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imagine and build
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think and act
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laugh and rest
They recover after challenge.
They know when they need help.
They feel safe enough to explore, and supported enough to return.
It’s rare — not because children are lacking, but because our world often pulls them into extremes.
The Axes of Balance help bring them back to centre.
The Whole Child is the natural outcome of rhythm, relationship, and the right experiences —
not a destination, but a harmony we nurture every day.