Why can’t my child sit still?

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As children approach kindergarten and school age, where there becomes an expectation for them to engage in seated tasks for extended periods of time, parents may begin to notice that their child cannot manage to sit still for very long. It should be noted that a child’s ability to sit still is more than a conscious decision of choosing to. This blog will highlight why a child’s ability to sit still is more complex than simply choosing to, and how parents can support their children to find safe, age-appropriate ways to move their body when they need to.

Why does my child seek out movement?

A reason why your child may love to climb, run, jump and move their body, and ultimately have difficulty sitting still is because they are seeking out vestibular input for their body. The vestibular system is located in the inner ear which provides information to our brains about the position of our body. Vestibular input, therefore, is the sensation of a change in position, direction or movement of our bodies which is detected by our vestibular system.

If a child is consistently seeking out this vestibular input, it could be because they have an under-responsive vestibular system, and therefore a higher threshold that they need to reach to feel this effect on their body. This higher threshold requires the individual to seek out more vestibular input into their body.

Once there is an understanding that there may be other factors at play that can cause children to have difficulty sitting still, there can then be an exploration of ways we can better structure activities and tasks for optimal engagement.

How can I better help my child engage in activities?

To better support your child to engage in activities, there are a range of things that you can do:

Consider giving movement breaks to your child between activities

A movement break is a short period during which children can engage in physical activity to break up long periods of sitting, including seated tasks. These breaks can work to help improve focus, reduce restlessness, and give the child an opportunity for vestibular input. A movement break could involve, but is not limited to:

Doing some star jumps
Having a dance break
Doing an activity that requires heavy work
Doing “rolly pollies”
Jumping on a trampoline
Spinning in circles or using an office chair to spin around

Consider how you can alter the set up of the activity to better support your child

You may be able to provide your child with the opportunity to seek vestibular input whilst also engaging in a seated task. For example, you could:

Allow them to sit on a yoga ball during the task where they can bounce up and down on it
Tie a Theraband or elastic band to their chair legs, which they can bounce their feet off of whilst in a seated position

How are developmental delays or disabilities linked to the vestibular system?

There are links between developmental delays or disabilities and the vestibular system. Having an under-responsive vestibular system, or an over-responsive vestibular system, has links to sensory processing difficulties. Having sensory processing difficulties is not only linked to an under- or over-responsive vestibular system, but having a high or low threshold to feel vestibular input can be an indicator of sensory processing challenges.

Having sensory processing difficulties, including an under- or over- responsive vestibular, is often seen in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). More specifically, the need for greater sensory input for the vestibular system is common for individuals who may be diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Who do I see if I have concerns?

At Strong and Courageous Kids, we support families to better understand a child’s strengths and provide effective evidence-based interventions to support a child’s development. Our therapists are specially qualified to help identify reasons as to why a child is struggling to engage in seated tasks or if they may have sensory processing difficulties and to address it with different modalities and therapies.