As a school-based occupational therapist (OT), I consult with many teams [along with our physical therapist] regarding flexible seating options for students. Allowing for different types of flexible seating in all classrooms can be beneficial. No two children need the same seating or opportunities for movement. Typically, we consider specifically recommended seating that is being recommended by OT/PT based on specifically evaluated student needs to be “alternative” seating options. If those options allow for extra movement, we sometime use the term “dynamic seating options”. We are focused on a student’s ideal positioning, postural control, sensory processing and attentional needs, etc. when considering what seating is right for a student.
Michelle summarized a variety of flexible seating options she uses in her K-2 Autism classroom in this blog if you are looking for ideas regarding options you could offer to everyone in your classroom. Below, I’m going to share some of my favorites and why you might select these options. As always, I encourage you to collaborate with the OT/PT staff in your schools to make the best decision for your students! Everyone is unique!
Bouncybands®
For kids who seek deep pressure, benefit from heavy work, or are fidgety in their seats, I love to use Bouncybands®[affiliate link]. I find them to be discrete/quiet, easy to choose when to use, and overall very beneficial for my students.
Ball Chairs
Ball chairs [affiliate link] have become very popular recently. While definitely a fun option for students to have for some added movement, I find that many of my special education students have trouble managing them. Core strength, balance, body awareness and impulse control are all skills needed to appropriately use ball chairs, so keep that in mind. Consider use a ball that has a base [with our without wheels] if the therapy ball by itself is unstable. Remember that students need 90-90-90 positioning [described well in this blog by Taylor] for their optimal learning! There are many sizes of balls from which to choose.
Circle Time
Sometimes more movement is required when students are seated on the floor. Scoop chairs [affiliate link] or rocking chairs can be great options to allow for that linear rocking movement that can be organizing and regulating for some students.
However, some students who lay on the carpet rather than sit, or excessively move around may be doing so because they need extra structure and support. Without anything support their core/back, some students struggle to sit up. Imagine having to hold a plank while listening to a read aloud story. Eventually, you would fatigue, start moving, and lose focus too! Consider using cube chair [affiliate link] or stadium seat [affiliate link] to provide that support.
Beanbags
Beanbags are a great flexible seating option for students who need calming sensory input. The deep pressure provided by the beanbag can be very confronting and regulating for students. Your beanbag chairs don’t have to be as large as the one pictured above! Having small beanbags at the carpet or in a “calming corner” are great classroom options! I also love the sensory tiles [affiliate link] shown above as a creative way to visually show a student’s designated space on the carpet, but also to provide additional visual sensory input.
Deep Pressure
Aside from the Bouncybands®[affiliate link] mentioned above, another way to get more full body deep pressure in a flexible seating option is to use a squeeze chair like the one pictured above. There is a variety of different ways in which to sit on this chair. On the ground, you can tip it on its side! Then you have it providing back support and pressure on the student’s sides. You can straddle it like a horse to get pressure on the front and back of the torso. Or sit the other direction and get pressure on the right and left. My student’s love this seat!
Additional Support/Structure
While I wouldn’t necessarily include these types of chairs as generic “flexible seating” options for all general education students, I do love these types of seats for inclusion! Chairs like the Rifton® Compass Chair give additional support and sensory boundaries for students. The adjustable height of these chairs, as well as the Tripp Trapp® and others like it, is very helpful to achieve optimal positioning for student learning.
Flexible seating, especially the type of seating options posted above, can be a great way to support sensory seeking students. I love to work with IEP teams on supporting students’ ability to self-advocate for flexible seating or other sensory-based strategies. Considering using the Simple Sensory Self-Regulation Toolkit as a great way to start working on this skill! For more ideas on how you use flexible seating and other strategies in the general education environment, check out my blog here!
