Therapy
Balls
Therapy balls are great for kids who need an
alternative seating option. Students need to be alert in order to balance their
weight on the ball. I also use the therapy ball to provide proprioceptive input
(deep pressure by rolling it firmly over a student who is laying on the
carpet). A therapy ball can also be used for students who need vestibular input
(rocking
back and forth or bouncing).
"Wiggle"
Cushions
I typically use these with my "wiggly"
kiddos. Wiggle seats can give some of the same input as the therapy ball but
are easier to implement in the classroom (especially in the general ed room)
because they are smaller and don't stand out as much. There are a lot of
varieties and textures. Last year I had a student who needed something to do
with his hands when he was trying to focus but was easily distracted when given
a fidget and didn't like using a fidget in general ed. Sitting on the wiggle
seat he could rub the texture and it was more discrete and less distracting.
Howda Hug
I have a student who is unable to sit "criss-cross" on
the carpet because he doesn't have the needed core strength. Additionally, he
struggled with boundaries and would often be turned completely around by the end
of activity. At first he used a preschool cube chair but I wanted something to
help him sit on the carpet like the rest of the kids. The howda hug has been
perfect for this. It provides a backrest for core support as well as a
boundary.
T-Stool
Like a therapy ball, a T-stool requires focus to
balance. I have used the T-stool for those students who have not had success
with a wiggle seat or therapy ball. A lot of students get frustrated at first
with the T-stool because they are hard to sit on but when used correctly
(intermittently with breaks) they work well for helping kids focus.
Rocking Chair
A rocking chair can
be a way to provide calming, vestibular input and give students a break.
Bean Bag Chair
A bean bag chair is a great place for a student
to take a break and listen to music or read a book. The “hug” of the chair around
students can provide some deep pressure input and for students who struggle
with sitting due to weak core strength it gives their body a break too.
