The current situation of being quarantined lends itself to a lot of time sitting around the house. The online school model requires children to sit and attend their classes for longer periods of time than they may be used to. They also do not get the social stimulation they were getting in school, which makes it even more difficult to sit in one place. Modifying the seating for all children, especially children who have difficulty sitting in one place for a period of time, can be very helpful. Here are some easy ways to modify a chair you have in your home to make it a more sensory friendly seat:

1. Beach Ball Chair: inflate a beach ball halfway and place the ball on the chair. Have your child sit on the ball.

2. Bouncy Ball Chair: use either a kickball or an exercise ball and place the ball inside an open, empty box. Have your child sit on the ball. The box gives the ball a base and does not allow it to roll.

3. Band Chair: tie a TheraBand around the front legs of the chair. Your child can place his/her feet on either side of the band and press his/her legs against the band while sitting. If you do not have a TheraBand, you can tie a pair of tights around the legs as well.

4. Noodle Chair: place a pool noodle on the seat of a chair with the ends toward the back of the chair. Place one piece of duct tape on each end of the noodle to secure it to the chair if needed.

The Therapy Gym, owned by Dr. Elisheva Fuchs, is the leading pediatric therapy center in Bergen County. The Therapy Gym provides physical, occupational, speech, behavioral and aquatic therapy as well as many classes for kids. Only the best, highly skilled and trained therapists work at the gym to help each child reach his or her potential. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s development, call The Therapy Gym at (201) 357-0417 or email [email protected]. You can also follow The Therapy Gym on Instagram and Facebook to learn more tips.�