Kids move to learn!
When your body is moving, your brain is more engaged in learning! It’s always
been the case and yet our children’s days are comprised of much less active play than we were allowed in years past. Much of their days are spent trying to sit still in their classrooms, which isn't allowing them to develop their sensory systems. Kids need ample time to run, jump, climb, crash, and get dirty! When sensory needs are not met through active sensory play, the brain seeks out the movement it needs by fidgeting and wiggling.

The ultimate aim of all sensory chairs is to help children (or adults) with their attention for focus. It is thought that children who move about are doing this to help keep themselves regulated and/or alert. Some children might move in order to help themselves to focus. Others may move because it helps keep their body and/or thinking more organised. The idea of any sensory chair or movement cushion is that it helps these children to get the extra movement they are ‘seeking’ whilst sitting. The idea is that the motion of the sensory movement cushion (or sensory chair) decreases other distracting or unsafe movements that the child may be doing to help keep themselves alert and focused. The purpose of having sensory seating is to allow these children to move about in a more appropriate way.

When kids are actively moving, they are developing muscle strength,
endurance, and coordination skills. Core muscle strength is needed to maintain appropriate posture when sitting in a chair, balancing on a moving surface, and sustaining those positions when your brain is actively engaged in something else! When your brain is paying attention to keeping your body upright, it’s not able to pay attention to the more important task at hand – eating, writing, learning, or playing. For some kids, decreased strength and endurance with postural muscles contribute to fidgeting and wiggling because it is physically hard to sit still!

For kids with diagnoses like sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD, and
anxiety, the challenge of sitting and focusing is affected by other symptoms of their diagnosis. For some kids, sitting in a chair requires sustained attention and interaction that they are not yet able to demonstrate without help. For other kids, just the feeling of the chair itself is uncomfortable and they cannot tolerate the sensation. Regardless of why your child is having difficulty staying seated, the need for active seating options is necessary so that your child is better able to participate in the activities that may be limited by constant fidgeting, wiggling, or seat avoidance.

There’s a lot to consider when finding seating solutions to help your child focus. Whatever the reason for their wiggles, think about textures, movement, and vibration when you’re considering a sensory seat and how it can fit into your home and your child’s classroom. Remember, active seating options are great sensory tools but they should never replace the active sensory play and movement activities that your child needs to learn and develop!