Harkla Hug

What is the Harkla hug?

The Harkla hug is an inflatable peapod sensory chair - the perfect cozy canoe that provides calming compression along with a soft flocked vinyl feel. Providing deep touch pressure (DTP) with firm tactile and proprioceptive input, the Hug is a great addition to any sensory corner or play area.

Who can benefit from the Harkla hug?

Well, really, ANYONE and EVERYONE!

But let’s get more specific. The Hug was created with sensory in mind - meaning children who struggle with sensory processing are the main beneficiaries of the Harkla Hug sensory peapod.

Let’s break it down a bit more.

Improving Attention:

Here is a child who is struggling with sustained attention to a task - specifically a sit-down task that requires focus for five + minutes. This child is unable to maintain attention to complete the task, is fidgeting constantly, is getting up and moving around the room, and/or is too distracted by surrounding noises and visual stimuli. This child may benefit from incorporating the Hug into the sit-down task or using it before the task to help organize their sensory system to prepare to focus!

Struggling with Anxiety:

How about a child who struggles with anxiety, specifically, anxiety during transitions, while in large crowded areas, or when trying something new? This child may become fearful, cry or refuse to leave, refuse to participate, and exhibit physical symptoms of anxiety such as nausea or headaches. Incorporating the Hug into the daily routine and playtime can provide calming proprioceptive input to help a child struggling with anxiety!

Improving Bedtime:

Let’s look at a child struggling with bedtime - specifically falling asleep, which includes getting into bed and staying in bed. This child may crawl into bed at bedtime, but then they toss and turn, cannot get comfortable, refuse to close their eyes, and get up out of bed several times. They may also exhibit signs of anxiety or hyperactivity, despite the late hour. This child may benefit from using the Hug before bedtime, as part of the bedtime routine, to provide calming DTP to help calm the sensory system to prepare for sleep!

If a child has a diagnosis or signs/symptoms of ADHD/ADD, Autism, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay, cognitive/learning challenges, Apraxia, SPD, or speech/language delay, the Hug can be a great addition to their play and development.

Different types of sensory input

The Harkla hug provides two main sensory inputs: proprioception and tactile.

Proprioception

Proprioception is the awareness of the position and movement of the body. Sensory receptors are located on your skin, joints, and muscles. When we move, these sensory receptors send signals to our brain, telling it about the movement's effort, force, and heaviness. Then our body can provide an appropriate response.

When we think about proprioceptive movement, we can also include heavy work - any movement that works the muscles, deep pressure - any input that provides pressure to our body, and vibration. Proprioceptive input is typically calming to the nervous system.

Individuals are usually not over-responsive to proprioception, meaning they don't have over-reactions to this type of sensory input. We do, however, see individuals who are under-responsive or sensory craving, meaning they want more heavy work, crashing, hugs, etc.

The Hug provides proprioceptive input through compression - almost like an actual hug!

Tactile

Tactile input is received through our skin. It includes light touch, firm touch, and the discrimination of different textures, including dry to wet and messy. The tactile system is also responsible for the processing of pain and temperature. Tactile input can be alerting, calming, or over-stimulating, depending on the person.

The Hug provides tactile input that can be calming due to the soft material. It gives immediate feedback to the tactile and proprioceptive systems - as mentioned above, DTP!

Another Added Benefit

Another area that the Hug adds to is body awareness and spatial relations. When we complete an activity that provides both proprioception and tactile input, our ability to understand our body in space better and within our environment improves. This has the added benefit of improving safety, coordination, and motor planning!

Tips For Introducing The Harkla Hug to Your Child

Some children LOVE the Hug immediately - these children love to move and explore. Typically, these children do not need a “formal” introduction to the Hug.

However, some children are more hesitant when using the Hug - these children may have challenges processing and modulating vestibular, proprioceptive, and/or tactile input. These children may refuse to climb into the Hug, may not know how to climb in or use the Hug, etc.

If your child is unsure about the Hug, try these tips to engage them:

• Include your child in the process of blowing the Hug up!
• Model! Get in the Hug and show your child how to climb in and out. Let your child watch you have fun in the Hug. Allow your child to help you.
• Place favorite toys in the Hug and allow your child to pull their toys around.
• Use the Hug on a soft surface such as cushions to decrease falling out on a hard surface.
• Allow your child to choose how to interact with the Hug. Allow them time to explore.
• Never force your child to get in the Hug unwillingly. It will take them longer in the long run if we push them!
• Avoid pressuring your child to get in the Hug as well. This includes positive pressure (i.e. “If you get in the hug, you can have a piece of chocolate!”). Leave it out, let them explore, walk away (if safe) and when they get in on their own, don’t make a big deal about it! Just talk to them calmly about how it feels, what they think, etc.

Tips for Incorporating the Harkla Hug into Your Child’s Day

Incorporating the Hug into your child’s daily routine can help with self-regulation throughout the day and add a playful element into the day. Here are some tips for incorporating the Hug into your child’s routine:

• Add the Hug to the morning routine to help “wake up.”
• Add the Hug to the bedtime routine to help “calm down.”
• Use the Hug as a “brain break” in between school/homework.
• Offer the Hug after school, before getting started on homework, chores, or extracurricular activities to reset the nervous system.
• Use the Hug as part of a sensory diet to help with arousal level.
• Allow your child to use the hug independently in order to de-stress or calm down when upset.