Seating Options for Remote Learning

Greetings!

I was trying to think of a fancy or catchy title for today’s post, but as you will see I didn’t think of one!

Since remote learning began, I’ve had several parents, teachers and students ask me about various seating options for remote learning.

Let’s face it, being stuck behind a computer all day is taxing.

More so for kids who are programmed to be moving, running, jumping, and climbing, not sitting.

I know a dynamic teacher who pre-Covid, had a fabulous classroom full of “flexible seating”.

It was an occupational therapist’s dream come true.

There were options for every student, and it was an occupational therapist dream come true.

While Covid has hindered that in classrooms, flexible seating is an option for home.

Here are my top 10 favorite seating options.

1. Standing-why do we think kids should always be seated to do work? What’s wrong with standing up and working? An adjustable desk can be great for switching between standing and sitting.

2. Laying down-again, why do we think kids should always be seated? Laying on the floor propped up on your elbows can be a great way to work.

3. Ball chair-One of my favorites, ball chairs can provide a little bit of movement while still staying seated.

4. Rocking chair-as we all know from our days as infants, rocking chairs can be soothing and help focus and attention. They make child size rocking chairs which are perfect for students.

5. Sit and move cushions-just as they sound, sit and move cushions provide a little movement when you are sitting, not as much as a ball chair which might be too much for some kids.

6. A stool-A stool is good for those kids who need more movement than a sit and move cushion, but less than a ball chair.

7. Kids desk chair-these are great for providing a little bit of movement by swiveling side to side or rolling.

8. Bean bag chair-these are great if you are snuggling up with a good book or aren’t doing any paperwork but just listening.

9. Swing/cocoon/pod chair- if you want to go all out, these can be a great way to provide a little movement (and fun!).

10. A regular good old fashioned chair- remember, flexible seating will not work for every student. Sometimes what’s tried and true is best.

To answer the question, “where can I buy these?”, there are a variety of places that will have flexible seating options for purchase, Amazon, Target and Walmart will have some options.

You can also search any of the chairs above and find many different purchasing options.

Oh! And before I forget, all of these options are great for adults too!

Until next time!