Does your child struggle to sit still at school or even at home? There could be several reasons for this and not just because they don’t want to do the task.
- Retained primitive reflexes
- Seeking vestibular, proprioceptive and/or tactile input
- Poor core strength
- Poor upper body strength
- Low muscle tone
- Attention deficits
- Avoiding or are sensitive to external sensory stimuli
Today, children are expected to sit for longer periods of time. In fact, in some kindergartens some children are being asked to sit for thirty minute blocks during circle time at some schools.
The problem: children are constantly in an upright position these days. It is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, and spinning in circles just for fun. Merry-go-rounds and teeter-totters are a thing of the past. Recess times have shortened due to increasing educational demands, and children rarely play outdoors due to parental fears, liability issues, and the hectic schedules of modern-day society. Lets face it: Children are not nearly moving enough, and it is really starting to become a problem.
From my observations in many classrooms in different schools over the past 5 years more children are walking around with an underdeveloped vestibular (balance) system today–due to restricted movement. Balance and poor postural control are noticed also. In order to develop a strong balance system, children need to move their body in all directions, for hours at a time. Just like with exercising, they need to do this more than just once-a-week in order to reap the benefits. In fact, children need this form of movement on at least a daily basis. Therefore, having sports practice once or twice a week is likely not enough movement for the child to develop a strong sensory system.
Children are going to class with bodies that are less prepared to learn than ever before. With sensory systems not quite working right, they are asked to sit and pay attention. Children naturally start fidgeting in order to get the movement their body desperately needs and is not getting enough of to “turn their brain on.” This is the body and brains way of feeding it’s systems with the movement and sensory input it needs to support self-regulation. What happens when the children start fidgeting? We ask them to sit still and pay attention; therefore, their brain goes back to “sleep.” If behaving poorly, some kids get sent to the corner or mat which is the worst thing we can do. A child does not typically do things innately to be naughty. Instead see it as a sign they are giving you asking for help. Instead, send them on a run around the oval or on an errand.
Fidgeting is a problem and a sign your child is sending us.. It is a strong indicator that children are not getting enough movement throughout the day. We need to fix the underlying issue. Recess times need to be extended and kids should be playing outside as soon as they get home from school. Twenty minutes of movement a day is not enough! They need regular movement breaks 3-4 times a day, 15-20 minutes of play outdoors in order to establish a healthy sensory system and to support higher-level attention and learning in the classroom.
In order for children to learn, they need to be able to pay attention. In order to pay attention, they need to move more.