Jessica Hoffarth MS OTR/L is an occupational therapist at Child and Family Development- Midtown office.
She found this great list of twenty-two reasons why a child can’t sit still on pediastaff.com, compiled by Loren Shales OT. While these ideas might seem unrelated to actual sitting, Jessica recognizes that the topics are worth exploring to determine what might be contributing to behavior, motor abilities as well as general health and developmental skills.
In particular, she notices in her own pediatric clients that body systems difficulties (respiratory, neuromuscular, sensory processing, etc.) may manifest in unexpected ways, including the “simple” task of sitting in a chair.
- not getting enough exercise
- poor postural stability, low muscle tone, and/ or weak trunk and spine
- chair/desk does not fit
- tactile defensiveness
- sitting with back exposed
- auditory defensiveness
- poor breather
- undetected visual problems
- poorly functioning inner ear
- immature nervous system
- poorly functioning metabolic processes
- not getting enough sleep
- too young or too immature for the task/ position
- expectations of the setting (i.e. classroom, church) are too much and the child feels lost, inadequate and confused
- basic needs: may be hungry, thirsty, tired, or need a bathroom
- over scheduled
- too much screen time
- caregivers have too much screen time
- difficulties at home with or between parents and siblings
- doesn’t know to respond to adult redirection
- expected to sit for too long
- boredom
Read the full article with detailed explanations here.
Learn more about how occupational therapy can help here.
Contact our office to schedule a free phone call with our occupational therapists.
