Tag Archives: OT

Dynamic Seating: Boosting Focus, Movement, and Posture in Learning Environments

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In today’s dynamic classrooms and therapy settings, keeping students engaged and focused can be a challenge—especially for those who struggle with sitting still. But what if seating could encourage movement while enhancing concentration? That’s the power of dynamic seating for learning. Alternative seating solutions like the Kore Wobble Chair, Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet by Bouncyband, and The AlertSeat allow children to stay active while working at standard desks or tables, promoting better posture, focus, and core strength. For floor-based learning, options such as floor cushions, scoop rockers, and Howda Designz Chairs provide comfortable, flexible seating that supports sensory needs and active learning. At Therapro, we believe that active seating isn’t just a trend—it’s a proven strategy for enhancing learning, movement, and overall well-being.

What is Dynamic Seating?

Dynamic seating refers to chairs or seating solutions that allow for some degree of movement. Unlike traditional chairs, these seats encourage slight movements that help improve focus and engage muscles in the body, especially in the core and trunk. This kind of seating is ideal for students or individuals who struggle with staying seated for long periods but still need to focus on tasks like reading, writing, or listening.

Some examples of dynamic seating for learning include:

Kore Kids Wobble Chair for dynamic movement while seated

Kore Wobble Chairs: These chairs feature a rounded base that allows children to rock, tilt, or swivel while seated. They are perfect for classrooms and therapy settings where movement is essential for focus and engagement.

black chair with Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet attached for a dynamic seating option

Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet by Bouncyband: These simple, rubber feet can be attached to most standard chairs, transforming them into dynamic, wobble seating. They are an excellent solution for classrooms or home offices.

Adult Size Howda Hug Design Chari for a dynamic sitting option at floor level.

The Howda Designz Chairs: Designed for floor-based learning, Howda Hug Design Chairs offer flexible, supportive seating that promotes core engagement, posture, and sensory input. Their lightweight, adjustable design allows for gentle rocking, helping improve focus and self-regulation in classrooms, therapy sessions, and home learning spaces.

How Does Dynamic Seating Help?

Improved Focus and Engagement:

For many children, especially those with ADHD, sitting still for long periods can be a struggle. Dynamic seating offers an outlet for excess energy, helping them stay focused on tasks without feeling restless. By allowing movement, these chairs help children channel their energy into productive ways, which leads to improved engagement in learning.

Better Posture and Core Strength:

Sitting on wobble seating, therapy balls, or using floor cushions helps engage the core muscles, which can lead to better posture over time. For kids who have trouble sitting upright in traditional chairs, this added stability from active seating encourages proper alignment and muscle engagement, promoting overall physical health.

Sensory Integration and Regulation:

For children with sensory processing challenges, dynamic seating can help self-regulate. Movement allows for sensory input, which can calm or energize a child, depending on their needs. It offers them a way to manage sensory overload while remaining engaged with their environment.

Ideal Use Cases for Dynamic Seating:

In Classrooms:

Dynamic seating can benefit students with attention challenges, sensory needs, or those who require additional support to remain focused during lessons or independent work. Products like the Kore Wobble Chair and Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet can be used in classrooms to promote active engagement.

In Therapy Sessions:

Therapists use dynamic seating to help children improve their motor skills, posture, and sensory integration. It’s an effective tool for occupational therapy and other therapies that target movement and coordination. The AlertSeat is a great option for therapists looking to provide a subtle yet effective seating solution.

At Home:

Parents can incorporate dynamic seating in their home learning environments. This allows kids to stay engaged during homework or study time while benefiting from the added movement.

Dynamic seating is a game-changer for those looking to improve focus, posture, and movement during learning activities. Whether in the classroom, therapy setting, or at home, active seating solutions provide the perfect balance of support and movement to enhance learning and physical well-being.

Explore our full range of Sitting and Moving seating solutions at Therapro and discover the perfect chair to support your active learners. Shop now!

The DASH-2: Assessing Handwriting Speed and Legibility

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The DASH2- Detailed Assessment of the Speed of Handwriting

Handwriting remains an important skill for recording information, expressing one’s thoughts on paper and communicating ideas to others, despite the increasing use of technology in educational settings. Writing demands placed upon students increase as they progress from primary, through secondary, to further and higher education. Confident, legible, and fast handwriting can support success both within the educational system and in workplace settings that still require the ability to write legibly and fast.

The most important objective in acquiring the skill of handwriting is to be able to write legibly, however, in many situations, the speed of handwriting is also important.

Based on this realization, the authors of the DASH-2 (who are experts in motor control) wanted to provide a reliable measure of the speed of handwriting while at the same time accounting for legibility. Thus, when measuring the speed of production, only letters/words that are legible within the context of the writing are counted. 

Uses of the DASH-2

The primary aim of the DASH-2 is to provide a reliable age-appropriate measure of handwriting speed and legibility. Data from the DASH-2 can be used to:

  • identify individuals with handwriting difficulties
  • determine eligibility for extra support 
  • provide a detailed description of handwriting performance
  • contribute to diagnostic assessment (e.g. Dysgraphia)
  • monitor progress and evaluate intervention effectiveness
  • aid research

DASH-2 Tasks

The DASH-2 contains five handwriting tasks:

  • Copy Best: Copying a sentence in ‘best’ handwriting for 2 minutes
  • Alphabet Writing: Writing lower case letters in alphabetic order from memory continuously for 1 minute
  • Copy Fast: Copying letters in words and words in sentences from a model sentence that contains all the letters of the alphabet quickly for 2 minutes. This is the same sentence used in Copy Best.
  • Graphic Speed: Drawing X’s in circles for 1 minute
  • Free Writing: Writing on the topic of My Life of Past/Present/Future for 10 minutes

Interpretation of Test Results: The 7Ss and 4Ps

Although the main focus is on speed and legibility, the authors encourage obtaining other useful information about an individual’s handwriting and written expression. They offer a format that is part of the Record Form for making Qualitative Observations during the testing.

The 7Ss are features of the examinee’s handwriting that can be observed in the finished product:

  1. Shape/letter formation
  2. Size
  3. Spacing
  4. Slant/slope
  5. Stringing together/joining
  6. Site/sitting on the line
  7. Shakiness

The 4Ps have been associated with poor handwriting outcomes.

  1. Posture
  2. Paper Position
  3. Pen/Pencil Grip
  4. Pressure 

Types of Scores:

The DASH-2 yields different types of scores pertaining to the five DASH-2 tasks:

  • Raw scores and scaled scores for each of the four core tasks
  • A total Standard Score
  • Percentile equivalents for the total standard score

The four types of supplementary scores provide:

  • A scaled score for the Graphic Speed task
  • a Copy Speed Difference score for the Copy Best/Copy Fast tasks
  • The percentage of illegible words from Free Writing
  • A WPM score for each section on the Free Writing task, to provide a profile of the whole Free Writing task

Summary:

This relatively new handwriting assessment fills a gap in our tools for the evaluation of handwriting speed and legibility for older students. Developed by the same authors of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – Third Edition who are experienced in observing motor control and evaluation development, we can feel comfortable in getting reliable results from the DASH-2. It is being used in some exciting research projects at the University of Washington. We think it is an important component in our ability to identify handwriting difficulties with a standardized and reliable assessment.

Guest Blogger: Karen Conrad Weihrauch, ScD, OTR/L 

Creating Sensory Spaces for Wellbeing

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In today’s fast-paced world, having a calming retreat is essential for individuals who may experience sensory overload, including children and adults with autism, ADHD, sensory processing challenges, or anxiety. Sensory spaces provide these much-needed areas of refuge, offering tools to regulate emotions, improve focus, and promote overall wellbeing. Whether you’re a therapist designing a clinic, an educator enhancing a classroom, or a parent creating a calming corner at home, sensory spaces can make a significant difference.

What is a Sensory Space?

A sensory space is a carefully designed environment that provides sensory input to help individuals regulate their emotions, behaviors, and sensory processing needs. These spaces are often used to support children and adults with sensory processing challenges, such as those with autism, ADHD, or sensory integration disorders. Sensory spaces can include calming elements like soft lighting, weighted blankets, and gentle music, as well as stimulating features such as textured surfaces, bubble tubes, and interactive activities. The goal is to create a balanced setting that promotes relaxation, focus, or engagement, depending on the individual’s needs.

The Importance of Sensory Spaces

Sensory spaces are vital for individuals with sensory processing challenges as they provide a safe, controlled environment to meet unique sensory needs. These spaces are essential for promoting emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, and fostering focus and engagement. These spaces are more than just calming zones—they empower individuals by offering opportunities to explore sensory experiences in a controlled, therapeutic manner. Whether it’s the soothing glow of a bubble tube or the tactile engagement of sensory-rich objects, these elements foster relaxation, learning, and emotional balance. By offering a mix of calming and stimulating elements, sensory spaces empower individuals to better navigate their environments, enhance self-awareness, and build skills for independence. For children in therapeutic, educational, or home settings, these spaces are a critical tool for supporting holistic development and well-being.

Therapro’s Plug-and-Play Sensory Solutions

At Therapro, we understand the importance of accessible sensory solutions. Creating a sensory space doesn’t have to involve extensive renovations or large areas. Products like the Luminea Corner, SENcastle All-In-One Sensory Room, and Luminea Bubble Tube Kits offer practical, ready-to-use options for therapists, educators, and parents.

The Luminea Corner, a compact yet impactful sensory environment

Luminea Corner: This innovative solution combines sensory integration with skill development through its compatibility with the Luminea app. The app enables dynamic interaction with the bubble tube and fiber optic lights, offering a customizable light display that can be used to work on fine motor skills, visual perception, and speech goals. This dual-purpose setup not only creates a calming sensory retreat but also transforms the space into an engaging therapeutic tool tailored to individual developmental needs.

The SENcastle: Perfect for small spaces or as a cozy corner within a larger sensory room, the SENcastle All-In-One Sensory Room provides everything needed to create a calming and engaging environment for self-regulation and relaxation. Its centerpiece, a captivating light column, integrates visual and auditory elements to stimulate multiple senses. Additionally, the SENcastle includes weighted, vibrating, and tactile pillows that target the tactile, auditory, proprioceptive, and visual senses, making it a compact yet comprehensive solution for sensory integration and therapeutic support.

SENcastle all in one sensory solution
Luminea Bubble Tube Kit

Luminea Bubble Tube Kits: These versatile kits are designed to adapt to a variety of spaces, with three distinct base options that cater to different sensory and therapeutic needs. The simple protector module provides a sleek, minimalist design that safeguards the electronics while maintaining easy access. The square base offers a sturdy seating area, allowing users to sit comfortably and view the bubble tube from multiple angles, ideal for group or one-on-one sessions. The corner base is perfect for maximizing space efficiency, enabling users to interact with the bubble tube from a seated or floor-level position while enjoying a cozy, immersive experience. Each of these options ensures that the bubble tube is both functional and accessible, providing visual stimulation to support sensory integration and therapeutic goals.

Tips for Designing Your Sensory Space

  • Adapt to Your Space: With Therapro’s modular options, even small spaces can become sensory havens.
  • Prioritize Accessibility: Ensure the sensory tools are easy to access and interact with for users of all abilities.
  • Maximize Comfort: Incorporate soft seating, cushions, or mats to create a welcoming environment.
  • Incorporate Multi-Sensory Elements: Combine visual, tactile, and auditory stimuli for a holistic sensory experience.

Make the Most of Your Space with Therapro

At Therapro, we understand the challenges of designing sensory spaces. That’s why our solutions are thoughtfully designed to be effective, user-friendly, and adaptable. Whether you’re a professional or a parent, our sensory tools provide the perfect foundation for creating spaces that enhance well-being and promote regulation.

Explore the Luminea Corner, SENcastle, and Luminea Bubble Tube Kit to get started on your sensory space journey. Together, we can create environments where individuals feel calm, supported, and ready to thrive.