🧠 Why Your Child Can’t Sit Still—and What OT Can Do About It

Do teachers frequently tell you that your child "just can't sit still"? During homework time, kids can be constantly moving about, hopping in their seat, or fidgeting. It's crucial to recognize that this might not be a behavior problem but rather a sensory need before drawing any judgements.

As an Occupational Therapist, I deal with kids who have trouble focusing and controlling themselves on a daily basis. Here are some reasons why your child might be having trouble staying still and how occupational therapy can assist.

🚨 Not All Movement Is Bad Behavior:

Let's start by changing our viewpoint: communication is movement. A child that moves a lot could be communicating with us through their neurological system. They might be:

- Looking for sensory information

- Feeling too much or too little stimulation

- Making an effort to control their feelings or level of energy

🔍 How the Sensory System Works

Each of us possesses seven (seven!) senses:

1. Visual: what we perceive

2. Auditory: The sense of hearing

3. Tactile: What we touch

4. Olfactory: the sense of smell

5. Gustatory: the taste we experience

6. Vestibular: our sense of motion and equilibrium

7. Proprioceptive: awareness of our body in space

The vestibular and proprioceptive systems of children who "can't sit still" frequently yearn for more input.

🚴‍♂️ Signs Your Child May Be Seeking Sensory Input

👉Continuously fidgeting or chewing

👉Spinning, bouncing, or rocking

👉Leaning on things or crashing into furniture

👉Stomping feet or walking on toes

👉Difficulty sitting for meals, stories, or schoolwork

These are signals-not merely habits.

🧩 The Benefits of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists are qualified to evaluate a child's sensory processing and offer resources and techniques to meet their needs. Here's how we can assist:

✅ Therapy via Sensory Integration
To help your kid digest sensory information more methodically, we employ play-based activities.

✅ Tools for Movement Breaks and Regulation
Wall pushes, scooter board rides, and sensory circuits are just a few of the easy ways we educate kids (and parents!) to safely and purposefully integrate movement into their daily lives.

✅ Personalized Home Strategies
Every child is different. We customize equipment, such as resistance bands, weighted lap pads, and wobbling cushions, to meet your child's demands.

👪 Things to Try at Home

Create a "movement menu" Allow your youngster to select three to five activities per hour, such as wall pushes, animal walks, and ten jumping jacks.

Make a peaceful area– a room furnished with sensory aids such as beanbags, stress balls, or noise-canceling headphones.

Be proactive rather than reactive by providing opportunities for exercise prior to sedentary activities, such as before homework or meals.

💬Concluding Remarks from an OT
Your child is wired differently; they are not broken. Additionally, their urge to move can be channeled into constructive, healthy focus with the correct assistance.

You don't have to figure it out on your own, and you're not alone if you're feeling overwhelmed. The impact of occupational therapy can be profound.

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