Fidgety Child Syndrome? How You Can Help

5 tips for students who fidget - www.YourTherapySource.com

Do you ever feel like your students have “fidgety child syndrome”? Of course that is not a real diagnosis, but if you walk into any classroom, you will most likely observe students who fidget, wiggle, and just simple can’t sit still. You might even see one or two who are moving non-stop.  Perhaps they rock back and forth in the chair, bounce their knees up and down or wiggle in their seats. Frequently there is a reason for all this movement, students with “fidgety child syndrome” may wiggle to stay in an alert state to be ready to learn.  

5 Suggestions to Handle “Fidgety Child Syndrome”

Just let the student fidget!

One study indicates that higher rates of activity level result in significantly better working memory. The researchers concluded that there is a functional role to hyperactivity in ADHD and recommended avoiding over-correction of gross motor activity during academic tasks that rely on working memory (Dustin et al, 2015).

If the student is not bothering anyone and it is not impeding their function or educational abilities just let the student fidget.  Maybe provide the student with a stability ball or disc cushion.

Need more ideas for alternative seating for fidgety child syndrome? Wiggle Worms: A Guide to Alternative Seating for the Classroom digital download includes all of the resources you need to begin implementing alternative seating strategies in a classroom.

Move the student’s seat

If a student continues to fidget and perhaps is distracting others, can you move his/her seat to a location where it will be less obtrusive.  Perhaps in an area of the classroom where the student can stand and walk around if needed.  

Provide an object to fidget with the student’s hands or feet.

Maybe the student can rub a small rock to keep his/her fingers busy. Tie some theraband around the legs of the desk or chair and the student can fidget his/her feet against the band.  Allow the student to doodle – doodling while writing has been shown to improve memory recall. 

 

Let the student chew gum, drink through a straw or crunch on a snack.

This may help with focus, attention span and even math skills.

Help students get the wiggles out!

Provide frequent movement breaks throughout the day. Research indicates that kids learn better and stay on task.

Best Strategies for Fidgety Child Syndrome – Use Brain Breaks

Brain breaks are excellent strategies for fidgety students. Take a break halfway through for an additional movement activity.  Try to incorporate movement into the academic or motor skill task to allow for a quick movement sensory break.   Need easy ideas?  Check out Monster Movement Transition Cards or pick a Mini Movement Break.  If you do not want the students up and moving around, try Chair Yoga poses.

Do you need quick and easy brain breaks for the classroom? You can download two FREE printables that are perfect for the classroom.

Reference:

Dustin E. Sarver, Mark D. Rapport, Michael J. Kofler, Joseph S. Raiker, Lauren M. Friedman. Hyperactivity in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Impairing Deficit or Compensatory Behavior? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. April 2015. DOI 10.1007/s10802-015-0011-1.

Do you ever feel like your students have "fidgety child syndrome"? Of course that is not a real diagnosis, but if you walk into any classroom, you will most likely observe students who fidget, wiggle, and just simple can't sit still.