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Weighted Items Help Children Calm Down

weighted item

Children sometimes need help calming down for many reasons.

 Sometimes the body is not able to calm down on its own.  For example:

  • a child can’t sit still in school
  •  the tags/rough fabric of their uniform is rubbing against their skin

Here are other reasons why a child could be acting out.

  • The Child has ADHD/ADD characteristics
  • The Child has sensory issues: over-stimulated/under-stimulated by their environment
  • The Child is affected by a recent move, going back to school or other family challenges

What can you do to help?

Often the simple act of adding weight/pressure might help the child calm down. The extra weight provides deep-pressure touch and calming input to the nervous system.

 

weighted item

Resources to make or buy weighted items.

http://www.beyondplay.com/ 

http://southpawenterprises.com/


Instructions to make a Weighted Lap Snake

 This is an easy way to try the concept and to see how the child responds.

Make one or more snakes and introduce them when the child is calm and happy. Place a snake in the child’s lap or drape it over his shoulders. Observe whether the child is less restless. Some parents/ teachers use the weighted snakes when they cannot stay right beside the child.

Instructions for sewing the Lap Snake:

  1. Use a long tube socks, one for each “snake.” You can also use thick tights or stockings and cut them off about 18” from the toe. Serge or whipstitch the cut edges.
  2. Fill each sock with four cups of rice or other similar pellets like pinto beans or split peas.
  3. Close the end of the tube sock by hand or machine, sewing the opening with small, sturdy stitches or use a rubber band.
  4. If desired, draw a simple face on the sewn side of the sock, making the seam the “mouth.”

  

 Gina Deveary

 4-C Early interventionist/Instructor