help sitting

Did you ever think of using a small one-step bathroom stool as a chair? A stool with a back was turned into a perfect chair for a young child to sit and play with his mother. The step stool was just the right height for the child to sit in with his feet on the floor. The side and back of the stool provided enough stability so that his mother could sit in front of him and play!

This plastic desk can be used in multiple ways. The desk can be placed on the floor next to the family sofa so the child has back support while playing near other family members. It's great for those children with poor sitting balance because the two side pockets act as support. It can also be used to help children learn to complete tasks. Items are placed in the left pocket, the child completes the task on the table top and when done, sets the completed task in the right pocket. In this picture, the desk is used with a laundry basket for a child who has low tone.

A piece of foam was cut into a wedge and placed under the dislocated hip when the child was sitting which improved her posture and her ability to use her hands to play. When used in the highchair, she had more support and was able to feed herself more successfully. The wedge was also used under her foot when standing to improve her stability and posture to facilitate easier play at the couch with toys. The wedge was also easy to transport: just throw it in the diaper bag and it could be used in other settings.

A plastic reclining lounge chair from K-Mart for $9.99 can be used as a bathing chair or chair to play in a baby pool or sandbox. The chair works great, is inexpensive and less cumbersome to carry than a heavy bath chair. The child is supported, and can play with other children while seated. If a belt is needed, there are openings to run a hip belt or shoulder straps already designed in the chair.

A variety of bolsters and mats can easily be made from items around the house. Large cans, oatmeal boxes, mailing tubes and other items in the shape you need to support the child can be taped together, wrapped with foam and/or toweling and made into bolsters that will hold a child in a desired position.

Materials:
Large cans or other items in desired shape
Foam from camping supply store
Towels or blanket remnants
Tape or thread

Directions:

You can make a small barrel seat quite easily from a 5 gallon plastic pail to support a child while sitting on the floor. The back can be cut high for children who require a great deal of support or low for those that do not. It can be cut off periodically to gradually decrease support as the child develops the ability to sit with less support.

Materials:

• 5 gallon plastic pail
• Very sharp instrument-kitchen knife, coping saw, or X-acto knife
• Sandpaper—medium and fine
• 14” round pillow