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Helping Fidgety Kids Sit Still at Circletime
By: Renata Bursten, Dragonfly Staff
Many children with sensory integration issues have trouble sitting still, in a circle, or in a class. For these kids, a sensory stratagy can help.
,Try letting the child hold "fidget toys" during circle or class. Try a Skwish, a few Wikki Stix, or Strength Putty. All of these toys feature sophisticated designs which do not look out of place in the hands of a school-age child. Save these toys for circle or quiet class time only.
,For more helpful ideas, see the article "Helping Fidgety Kids Sit Still" in the PlayPen.
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PLAY Tip
Crystal Drop Ball: Sensory Integration and Balance
Try sitting the child cross-legged on a ball. Hold their hips firmly, and slowly roll the ball from the center out in the forward directions on a gentle angle.
Watch to see how (and if) the child compensates for the new angle of their trunk. We want to see the chin tip back towards level with the floor. This signifies the understanding that "upright" is not always determined by the position of the hips relative to the floor, but rather is cued by the relation of the inner ears to the floor.
Prompt the child to "sit up straight" both with verbal and demonstrative cues. Once the rolling forward is mastered, work on backwards, side-to-side, and in a gentle circular motion. The see-through ball adds extra fun!