Seating for learning
Seating for learning
It is important for all children to sit properly when writing. Being seated properly gives a child good stable posture to develop their fine motor skills and handwriting. A well supported trunk is essential for good shoulder control.
Children who have difficulty with their movement can find it very difficult to sit comfortably or with stability. It is even more important for these children to get their posture right to help them develop their handwriting.
The ideal sitting position
A child should be able to sit with their bottom at the back of the chair with approximately two fingers' width between the back of their knees and the edge of the seat.
The child should be able to place both feet flat on the ground and be sitting up straight, creating the “90°, 90°, 90°” posture. The desk needs to be at the child’s elbow level with forearm flat on the table.
An illustration of the ideal “90°, 90°, 90°” sitting position
Basic seating checklist
- Is the child's bottom back in the chair?
- Are the child's feet touching the floor?
- Is the child able to sit upright without support?
- Is the child about to sit long enough for them to engage in activity?
- Are there arm rests to the chair?
- Is the desk or chair roughly at elbow height when the child is sitting at it in their chair?
- Is the child propping themself up when in a seated position?
- Does the child spend a lot of time fidgeting?
- Is the child's body weight evenly distributed?
Solutions
Once the problem has been identified, it is worth trying out the following:
- A different sized chair or table to see whether this helps improve the child’s posture
- A small foot stool if a smaller chair cannot be identified to support the child’s feet and improve their stability
- A small cushion behind the child’s back if the chair depth is too great
- Checking that appropriate footwear is worn, fits properly and provides good support
- Ensuring glasses are worn if needed for short-distance vision (writing, reading and other tabletop tasks)
- Providing opportunities for the child to practise some core strengthening exercises, such as bridging, high kneeling / side sitting, balancing on a therapy ball, animal walks
- Providing opportunities for regular changes of position and movement breaks during long periods of sitting
- Encouraging the child to review their posture regularly, particularly at the beginning of a task. This can be a verbal or visual prompt (such as a photo of them sitting with good posture)
Equipment to support good posture
Please note that the products and organisations listed here are provided for illustrative purposes only. NHFT and the Children's Occupational Therapy Service have no affiliation with any of the companies mentioned and alternative suppliers are widely available.
Chairs and tables
- Standard classroom chairs are available which offer better support, such as Postura chairs
- For pre-school settings, childshape chairs and adjustable height tables
- Rokzi arm rests and anti-tip legs can be fitted to standard metal-framed chairs
- Foot rests can also be fitted to standard metal-framed chairs
Writing slopes and wedge cushions
For children who lean over a table, the following posture aids may be helpful to try:
- Posture Pack writing slope
- Handwriting posture support set
- TTS writing slope
- Write Angle writing slope
Inflatable cushions
Inflatable cushions create instability (a wobble) encouraging the core muscles to work, imrpoving posture and core stability.
The wedge shape tilts the pelvis forward to reduce stress on the lower back and prevents slouching.
The wobble effect also makes sensory-seeking children focus on how they sit, reducing fidgeting and helping to improve focus on the task in hand.