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“Sit down!”
“Bottom in your chair!”
“Feet on the floor!”
How many times do you hear these reminders in an elementary classroom these days? Or, how often do you say it to your kids when they’re at the dinner table?
The reality is that kids are wiggly and have a hard time staying seated for all that we expect them to do at a table or desk.
These small movements may look like distractions, but they often serve a purpose. For many children, movement helps their brains stay alert, organized, and ready to learn. If your child struggles to sit still or stay focused, a wiggle cushion may offer the sensory input they need to stay regulated and engaged.
This guide explains how wiggle cushions work, why they help, and how to choose the right one. You’ll also see examples from Harkla’s Sensory Seat collection, plus clear tips for parents, teachers, and therapists.
Children rarely stay still for long. Their bodies crave sensations that help them feel grounded and organized. When that input is missing, their nervous systems find ways to create it.
A child’s brain lights up when the body moves. Movement supports attention, memory, and emotional regulation. Kids learn through active play like running, climbing, crashing, spinning, and exploring their environment. When their day includes long periods of desk time, their sensory systems may feel under-stimulated, so they fidget to get the input they’re missing.
When a child’s core muscles are still developing, holding an upright seated position feels tiring. As the body works to stay balanced, attention shifts away from the actual task. Kids may slouch, lean, slide out of the chair, or keep changing positions. A sensory seat reduces that physical effort and gives them support through movement.
Some children face extra hurdles with sitting and sustaining attention. A wiggle seat for kids can be a helpful tool for children with:
ADHD
Sensory Processing Disorder
Autism
Anxiety
Low muscle tone
Postural instability
A sensory cushion for autism can reduce the constant “background noise” the nervous system experiences and make the environment more comfortable.
A wiggle cushion is an inflatable sensory seat that offers gentle movement while a child sits. It may also be called a wobble cushion, sensory cushion, or sensory disc. Kids can use it on a chair or on the floor for carpet time, homework, meals, or focused play.
Harkla’s Wiggle Cushions include two sides:
One smooth
One gently textured for tactile input
You can adjust the air inside the cushion to change the level of movement. More air gives stronger wobble; less air provides subtle motion.
When your body is moving, your brain is more engaged in learning! It’s always been the case and yet our children’s days are comprised of much less active play than we were allowed in years past. Much of their days are spent trying to sit still in their classrooms, which isn't allowing them to develop their sensory systems.
Kids need ample time to run, jump, climb, crash, and get dirty! When sensory needs are not met through active sensory play, the brain seeks out the movement it needs by fidgeting and wiggling.
To learn more about a sensory processing disorder click here.
When kids are actively moving, they are developing muscle strength, endurance, and coordination skills. Core muscle strength is needed to maintain appropriate posture when sitting in a chair, balancing on a moving surface, and sustaining those positions when your brain is actively engaged in something else!
When your brain is paying attention to keeping your body upright, it’s not able to pay attention to the more important task at hand – eating, writing, learning, or playing. For some kids, decreased strength and endurance with postural muscles contribute to fidgeting and wiggling because it is physically hard to sit still!
For kids with diagnoses like sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD, and anxiety, the challenge of sitting and focusing is affected by other symptoms of their diagnosis. For some kids, sitting in a chair requires sustained attention and interaction that they are not yet able to demonstrate without help. For other kids, just the feeling of the chair itself is uncomfortable and they cannot tolerate the sensation.
Regardless of why your child is having difficulty staying seated, the need for active seating options is necessary so that your child is better able to participate in the activities that may be limited by constant fidgeting, wiggling, or seat avoidance.
Luckily, parents aren’t the only ones recognizing the need for alternate seating. More and more classrooms are “moving” towards active seating options for kids.
“Active seating” options allow for subtle movements and adjustments while sitting. They’re not going to replace active play experiences, but these sensory seats promote body engagement and increased focusing ability by giving your child the sensory input he/she needs!
A classroom with alternate or active seating options could include:
The key to active seating is to provide a just-right fit for students who need a way to sit so they are able to actively engage and focus. The focus of the student then shifts from trying to stay still, to learning something new!
Whatever you want to call them, these sensory cushions can be used on chairs or on the floor to allow for subtle movements without calling attention to wiggling. Sensory cushions can come in different textures (bumpy or smooth or spiky), different sizes, and different shapes!
They are filled with air and depending on the amount of wiggling needed, you can adjust the amount they are inflated to provide more/less “wiggle.” Some sensory cushions like this Movin’ Sit have a wedge shape that promotes good posture. Teachers love these cushions to define boundaries on the carpet and they’re versatile enough to be used throughout the classroom without taking up a lot of space.
If your child doesn’t have the balance to stay upright or keep the ball underneath them, try corralling it in a ball stability bowl, laundry basket, or milk crate. You’ll still be providing a moveable sensory surface while allowing for more containment of the ball itself.
You can buy ball chairs with armrests and a sturdy frame that accomplish the same thing. An exercise ball is one of an occupational therapist’s must-haves! If you’ve got one at home, try bringing it out as an active seating option.
For kids who have good balance and safety awareness, exercise balls can be great to tuck under the desk in lieu of a classroom chair or at the kitchen table! In fact, some balls come ready-made to turn them into chairs like these balls with stability legs.
Whatever type of exercise ball seat you choose, a good guideline for proper positioning is 90/90/90 - to have your child’s feet flat on the floor, their hips, knees, and ankles should be at 90-degree angles. So, size your exercise ball up or down based on your child’s height.
Runtz ball chairs are stable chairs that have exercise balls built into them so you don’t have to sacrifice the sensory input for the safety of a stable base.
The Kids ErgoErgo allows kids to rock gently in any direction to build core strength while actively sitting.
Kids can bounce, wiggle, and jiggle to their heart's content on the playful Jellyfish Chair. Perfect for kids who have trouble sitting still or crave a little movement while they work at a desk.
If you’re looking for more of a core muscle challenge, T-stools or wobble chairs are specially-designed active seating options.
Add a little extra input to a foam cushion with this vibrating cushion from Senseez. It may not provide as much wiggling potential, but the soft foam and deep vibration may be a just-right fit for some kids to stay seated!
Selecting the best sensory seat involves looking at texture, size, air levels, and your child’s sensory profile.
Some kids love tactile bumps. Others find them irritating. Harkla’s dual-sided design helps you test both.
More air = stronger movement
Less air = grounding, subtle input
Start with low inflation and add air slowly.
Your child’s hips should fit comfortably on the cushion without sinking in or sliding off. For younger kids, smaller cushions feel more secure.
Think about when you want to use it:
Homework table
Classroom desk
Circle time
Dining table
Therapy sessions
One cushion may work across all settings, but some families keep separate cushions for home and school.
Teachers use wiggle seats to reduce interruptions and help kids stay in their learning zone. They also work well during group lessons, especially when each child has a defined spot.
Parents often use the cushion during meals, homework, crafts, or independent play. It’s a simple way to support focus without adding extra steps to the routine.
Occupational therapists use wiggle cushions as part of sensory diets. They also teach kids how to recognize when the cushion helps and when they need other tools.
There’s a lot to consider when finding seating solutions to help your child focus. Whatever the reason for their wiggles, think about textures, movement, and vibration when you’re considering a sensory seat and how it can fit into your home and your child’s classroom.
Remember, active seating options are great sensory tools but they should never replace the active sensory play and movement activities that your child needs to learn and develop!
Most wiggle cushions work well for ages 3 and up. Younger children may need extra supervision or a smaller cushion.
Yes. Many children with ADHD benefit from steady sensory input. A wiggle cushion gives them movement that helps balance their attention and energy.
They can be. A sensory cushion for autism supports regulation, provides tactile and proprioceptive input, and makes seated tasks more comfortable.
That depends on the child. Some use it during short tasks only. Others benefit from using it throughout the day. Start with 10–15 minutes and adjust.
Both can work. A firmer cushion gives more movement. A softer cushion feels grounding. Adjust the air until the child looks comfortable and balanced.
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