By Karen House, M.S., MT-BC

Working with children on the Autism spectrum, I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter how amazing I think my session plan is, sometimes it just doesn’t go as expected. There can be any number of factors in a child’s day that affect their ability to attend to a therapy session. One “pro tip” I use often is quick and simple: switch up the seating arrangement!

• Carpet square / Place marker – nothing fancy, this can be as simple as a paper circle on the floor to indicate where the child should be sitting. Sometimes that’s all you need, a little direction!

• Balance disc – this looks like a round puffy frisbee, sometimes with bumps on one or both sides. It is inflated and has the same appeal as a balance ball without the height or danger of falling off. For the wiggly child, this helps them remain in their spot while still getting some wiggles out.

• Cube chair – works well with preschoolers! It’s shaped like a cube and can be flipped one way for a low seat and high sides to “hug” the child in place, or upside down for a higher seat and shorter sides.

• Balance Ball / Peanut – although there’s a high risk of off-task bouncing, these options are great for the child who has a lot of wiggles. Sitting on the ball or peanut forces the child to keep a strong and stable core, which often helps redirect attention back onto the task at hand.

• T-Stool – similar to a balance ball, this is a T-shaped stool where the child sits on a bench and there is one leg holding it up in the middle. It forces good posture and balance to not tip over, so in theory the child is more focused. Have you ever tried to sit on a T-stool? It’s pretty difficult!

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