Most of us have no problem processing everyday sensory information. For children with Sensory Processing Disorders as well as those with other developmental disabilities, it may be a challenging task.
The swinging motion of a hanging chair soothes, relaxes, increases concentration and reestablish balance to the vestibular system. Generally, swinging in a hanging nest chair helps autistic-spectrum children feel more “in balance”. Also, autistic kids often withdraw to avoid overstimulation, and a hanging nest chair is the ideal retreat place cause they are cocoon-like and they swing.
Sensory integration focuses on three primary senses–tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive. Although these three sensory systems are less known than vision and audition, they are crucial to our basic survival.
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Hanging Chair and Vestibular System
The Vestibular system is located within the inner ear, and it is responsible for our sense of balance and coordination.
There are a notable number of specially developed sensory integration programs for autism disorders that focus on therapy using various techniques types of swinging. Hanging upside down, rocking movement, and spinning– all these swinging activities stimulate the vestibular system, and a hanging chair can support them.
Ideally, therapy will provide a mixture of these movements. A rocking back and forth motion will usually calm a child while dynamic rotational movement like spinning will stimulate them. This should be used carefully by the therapist who will through careful observation and make sure the action is not overstimulating.
Setting up a hanging chair for autistic kids inside your home is inexpensive and straightforward. So why not put one in the child’s room, playroom or living room for a retreat or a therapy corner for an autistic child?
A hammock chair, hanging nest or an indoor swing are all relatively low-priced, easy to find and do not take up a lot of space.
Stretch Therapy Hammock Chair Swing
Children can sit completely relaxed in there and enjoy calming, back-and-forth motions or awakening, round-and-round motions! Note: if you’re pushing your child around in a rotational movement, make sure you periodically swap the direction of rotation.
The cuddly swing gives children security. In the soft therapy swing, the kids experience a smooth, pleasant pressure.
• Therapy swing for children
• The soft, stretchy material exerts even pressure
• Suitable for 1-point suspension
The cuddly swing is often used for autistic kids in sensory integration therapy. The best way is to hang it from a 1-point suspension. The soft tissue encloses the body of the patient and enables intensive body perception and vestibular stimulation.
Therapy Nest Swing
Autistic children enjoy sitting in the hanging nest chair more than in others, cause they are ‘cocooned’. Children on the autism spectrum often enjoy a feeling of overall pressure. Autistic children may enjoy experiences that may be claustrophobic for neurotypical children. So we suggest putting a blanket or a cushion if your child enjoys being squashed by pillows.
The hanging cave “Joki ” is the cuddly retreat in drop form. The cosy hanging bag for playing, swaying, swinging and relaxing should not be missing in any childcare.
Features:
- High-quality cotton from certified organic cultivation
- Cosy retreat – brings peace and relaxation
- Very durable and therefore also for wild kids’ plays, and swings
Very comfortable: fits perfectly to the body
Hanging Cave “Joki” by La Siesta looks pretty similar as many other models out there, but only a few are made of natural material
More and more children and adults today are allergic to different materials. The Joki is made of high-quality organic cotton. The natural material feels pleasantly cuddly soft and is particularly skin-friendly. Both the soft seat cushion with the zipper and the outer fabric of the hanging nest fit perfectly to the child’s body. This is not only particularly comfortable but also healthy for the back and good for the posture. Thus, the slight vibrations of the hammock seat stimulate stabilising, balancing movements of the body. This improves body tension and promotes a healthy attitude. The hanging cave was developed in collaboration with the Federal Association for the Promotion of Movement and Physical Activity (BAG) in Germany for the special needs of children from the age of three.
More details about the hanging cave “Joki” you can rede here:Review: Hanging Nest JOKI by La Siesta
• Made of 100% organic cotton
• High quality and lint-free
• Incl. integrated swivel, rope, and hook for the ceiling
• Washable at 30 ° gentle wash
• Pillow included
• Cushion filling: 100% polyester
• Width of the seat: 70 cm
• Height of the hanging cave: 150 cm
• Minimum room height: 200 cm
• Load capacity up to 80 kg
• Age: 3-10 years
Whether at home, in kindergarten, at school or the sensory therapy facility: a stop in the organic hanging cave “Joki ” is a welcome change for every child compared to the conventional chair. It’s awesome as a reward after a successful therapy session, as a small active break while doing homework or simply to relax at any time of the day. The cuddly organic hanging cave gives the kids time and space for themselves in a floating oasis. Here they can just close the curtain and for a moment completely isolate themselves from the hectic world around them. But not only for relaxing and reading, the high hanging seat can also be used for spinning, swings, and games.
For children, it is a place of relaxation, as well as for games, fun and adventure – the hanging cave “Joki Froggy”!
For children with sensory integration dysfunction, hanging chairs for kids are not only a lot of fun and joy but a beneficial piece of furniture.
Sensory Swings and Hanging Chairs for Daycare
The use of sensory hanging chairs, hammocks or therapy swings in daycare facilities, kindergartens and classrooms are welcomed. Not only for autisctic but for all children.
The following notes should be noted:
- The ceiling or beam construction must be strong enough to withstand the load
- For flexible use, it is recommended to install rail systems
- Only products from specialist retailers should be used which, if possible, have a test certificate
- Swings and hammocks must be outside of the direct running area of the children.
- A sufficient distance to the walls should be kept.
- Below the hanging chair, sensory hammock or swing a soft pad as fall protection is highly recommended
- The suspensions system, the rope, as well as the hooks, must be checked regularly.
With these children’s rules, it should be a secure funny place:
- only two to three children, depending on the size of the sensory hanging chair or swing, can swing at the same time.
- Kids are not allowed to swing too high.
- That a hammock is not suitable for romping.
Why swinging will boost the kids’ concentration?
Anyone who has ever looked into an ergotherapy room for children knows: occupational therapists love to work with various kinds of therapy swings.
The large platform swing turns into a sailing ship, and the little captain hast o use his balance skills for navigating his boat bravely through the storm. Lying on her stomach in the hammock, the astronaut shoots her rocket into space and trains his back and neck muscles. Swinging is a beautiful way to train a variety of sensorimotor skills playfully.
But how does the rocking, spinning and swaying in a sensory hanging chair promote concentration?
Well, those who want a simple explanation now will, unfortunately, be disappointed – the human brain is too complex for a quick answer. At this point, however, we are not going to try to give you some complicated neurophysiological explanations. Only so much should be said: attention control ( known as concentration) appears in the same area of the brain, in which also balance stimuli are processed. Rocking activates the balancing process in the inner ear of this brain area, which can also affect the concentration performance – positive and negative. For example, very wild, spinning plays can cause a child to become confused, both literally and figuratively “losing his middle” and go “over-the-top”, and then taking a while to come down and focus again.
However, very straightforward, rhythmic rocking movements, often in combination with a clear intention (such as throwing a ball from a swing into a basket), generally draw attention. This task will challenge balance and concentration at the same time.
Have you ever balanced on a balance beam or at least tried it? Then you know that keeping the balance requires the highest concentration. The same applies vice versa: concentration works much better with the right balance.
Install a sensory hanging chair, egg chair, a swing or a hammock and let your kids rock, hang upside down, swing and balance – in a nutshell, it’s fun and helps kids to concentrate.
For older kids and teens we recommend having a look at13 Hanging Chairs Your Teen Will Love (And How To Choose The Perfect One)