What are the best chairs for kids with ADHD? And why do kids with ADHD need alternative seating options?
Well, if you’ve ever tried to get your child to sit at the dinner table or sit for learning, you know that it’s not always easy. Believe me, I’ve tried.
Kids with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) may struggle with behaviors that make it difficult to sit still in a traditional chair. Fortunately, specially designed ADHD chairs can help young children get the sensory input they need to improve focus and learning.
Let’s take a look at 19 sensory chairs for kids with ADHD.
ADHD Symptoms and Prolonged Sitting
Children with ADHD are diagnosed by their doctors with one of three diagnoses.
- Hyperactive-Impulsive type
- Inattentive type ADHD
- Combined type ADHD
When most people think of ADHD, they typically imagine the hyperactive-impulsive type. You know. The little boy who can’t sit still. He’s usually the disruptive one in class because he blurts out random thoughts AND he can’t stay in his seat long.
However, even those with inattentive-type ADHD struggle with hyperactivity. Specifically, an internal form of hyperactivity that impacts their ability to focus and pay attention.
ADHD & Executive Functioning
ADHD impacts executive functioning skills such as:
- working memory
- task initiation
- sustained attention
- impulse control
- and planning
These skills are critical to effective learning and are related to decreased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex (the executive center of the brain).
To help us get on the same page, let’s briefly talk about how sitting still impacts blood flow and learning.
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ADHD & Alternative Seating
Studies have shown that prolonged sitting leads to decreased blood flow to the brain. It makes sense that decreased cerebral blood flow leads to greater ADHD symptoms.
Specific to a traditional classroom experience, occupational therapists recommend active sitting opportunities. They recommend the use of dynamic seating for kids with learning challenges such as ADHD.
Active sitting refers to seating options that meet kids’ natural desire for sensory input while supporting learning.
Quick Video Tutorial: Why I Recommend Private OT
Occupational therapists have expertise in the brain and behavior. I recommend a PRIVATE OT eval whenever a child is struggling with behavior, emotional regulation, and learning.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
19 Best Chairs for Kids with ADHD
Children don’t need a diagnosis of ADHD in order to benefit from sitting in something other than a regular chair. If your child is struggling with attention and learning, consider a different seat.
Below are 19 of the best chairs for kids with ADHD symptoms. Specifically, several different seating options to help children:
- better focus
- increase attention span
- release excess energy common in ADHD
- strengthen core muscles
- support healthy posture
- get needed sensory input
- improve learning
It’s important to remember that each child with ADHD has different needs and symptoms. Those unique needs should be considered when choosing seating options for your specific child.
1. Wobble Chairs
Wobble chairs are a great tool for high-energy kids who have a hard time sitting still in a regular desk chair.
These chairs allow children to shift their sitting position in all directions. Specifically, kids can lean forward and backward without tipping over their chairs.
Fun and Function wobble chairs are excellent active seating solutions that will help your restless ADHD child sit for longer periods.
Further, many autistic children have low-muscle tone (hypotonia). Using a wobble stool can increase core strength in such kids.
2. Stability Balls
- 【Help Concentrate & Improve Posture】The bouncing on the stability yoga ball chairs increases…
A small study by the Journal of Pediatric Physical Therapy compared traditional chairs with alternative seating. Researchers gave children options for dynamic seating including therapy balls.
A simple stability ball can be an excellent ADHD chair for a child who’s in constant movement.
If you have an exercise ball already, give it a try the next time you need your child to sit for an extended period of time.
Again, when children can make small movements they’re able to release extra energy. Plus, bouncing on a balance ball provides the brain with vestibular input which increases attention.
This balance ball is the perfect child-sized yoga ball for elementary-age students.
3. Bouncy Bands
- HELPS ALL STUDENTS – Bouncy Bands allow fidgety students to sit at their desk and move the band,…
Bouncy Bands are bands that stretch across the legs of a child’s desk area. These are made for traditional classroom desks and would be great to help a student improve classroom behavior.
While these bands are not a chair per se, they’re a great way to get out extra energy in a more hyperactive student.
Or, if you’re choosing seating based on a child with inattentive-type ADHD symptoms, a chair band can provide sensory stimulation to increase alertness.
4. Howdahug Seats by Fun & Function
Did you know that a sensory processing disorder diagnosis is not needed for one to have sensory needs?
In fact, we all have sensory needs that when addressed can increase attention, mood, and behavior.
Howdahug Seats by Fun and Function are a lightweight seating option for kids who seek proprioceptive sensory input.
Once seated in the Howdahug Seat, a child receives deep pressure to the hip area. This calms the brain and body by releasing serotonin.
Even better, these seats are portable and fold up for an on-the-go seating option.
Proprioceptive Input & ADHD
What is proprioceptive input?
Proprioceptive input is one form of sensory input that helps calm the body and the brain for improved attention.
Occupational Therapists often recommend what’s referred to as “heavy work,” or “deep pressure” to describe proprioceptive activities.
Watch this quick tutorial for more on proprioception including how to know if your child seeks proprioception.
5. Wobble Cushions
- 【Helps Children Stay Focused】- Our wobble seat helps absorb kids’ energy and allows them to sit…
A simple wobble cushion can be added to a regular chair to create a simple wiggle seat.
Basically, a wobble cushion is an inflated seat cushion that allows students to make small movements without being distracting to others.
6. Chair Bands
Active seating options don’t have to break the bank.
In fact, a simple exercise band can be wrapped around the legs of any chair to meet your child’s need for movement.
7. Lean and Learn Wedge Cushion
This Lean and Learn Wedge cushion by Fun and Function tilts the hips and spine forward just slightly to allow more active seating.
It’s the perfect flexible seating option as it can be used on a chair or while seated on the floor.
The Lean and Learn Wedge cushion comes in different colors and has small bumps on one side for increased tactile input.
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8. Gel Cushion
Fun and Function makes a gel-filled cushion that turns any chair into an active chair.
The gel cushion increases focus by providing sensory input that mimics a “ride on the water.”
When your older student needs to sit for long periods of time for a test or for an intense study session, make a wiggle chair with a gel cushion.
9. Wiggle Feet
- INCREASE FOCUS – Bouncyband Wiggle Feet is a silent fidget and ADHD tool that provides an outlet…
Bouncy Band Wiggle Feet helps ADHD children improve focus while seated.
Simply place this foot fidget cushion at your child’s feet.
This simple cushion is a great fidget option for students of all ages and includes an easy-inflation pump for your convenience.
10. Peanut Exercise Balls
A peanut exercise ball is a great alternative to traditional ball chairs in that it offers extra stability.
Peanut balls allow children to wiggle back and forth or side to side without the risk of falling.
In the long term, this lessens the chance of distraction while still providing a dynamic seating option.
11. Hammock Chair
- Comfortable Enjoyment: This hammock chair is Comfortable and durable. It will not lose cotton…
If you’re homeschooling, a hanging hammock chair is a great seating option for your learner.
Swinging provides vestibular input that can increase attention and help your student stay more engaged in learning.
Find a corner of your child’s bedroom or your school room, and hang one of these hammock chairs.
This is a great place for your teen to read and work on assignments while feeding their sensory needs.
12. Standing Desk
- Digital Display Handset – 4 memory preset options for easy adjustment.
A small study showed significantly greater energy expenditure in children using a standing desk rather than a sitting one.
Because a hallmark ADHD symptom is difficulties with attention, the last thing they need to do is sit all day.
A standing desk is a great option to improve attention for kids with ADHD. If you have an island in your kitchen, start by having your child stand at the counter to do schoolwork.
13. Rocking Chair
A traditional rocking chair is another alternative seating option that provides vestibular input for increased attention.
Depending on your child’s sensory profile, adding a rocking chair to your reading area may be a great option to improve reading comprehension.
To save money, try searching Marketplace for a used one.
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14. Bean Bag Chairs
Many teachers and parents have found bean bag chairs to be great seating options for wiggly kids.
A bean bag chair can provide proprioceptive input that calms the brain and body.
Further, when kids can recline in comfortable unconventional positions, they’re often better able to focus.
For example, a child who naturally flips upside down or reads with their head in a declined position does so because their brains seek vestibular input. It’s that input that their brain needs in order to focus.
The Mega Mushy Smushy Bean Bag Chair is a great option for kids who need a lot of tactile input. It’s smushy and malleable and can act as a chair.
This Posh Bean Bag is a traditional bean bag option that comes in a variety of colors and has a removable cover for washing.
15. KidsErgonomic Stool
- ✅ IMPROVES FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION: KidsErgo is the safe and healthy way to sit. Children are…
ErgoErgo makes fantastic active sitting stools for both children and adults.
The simple design of the KidsErgonomic Stool strengthens core muscles and posture as kids wiggle in the seat. Its range of motion is 360 degrees allowing kids to move in a way natural to their body’s desires.
KidsErgonomic Stool comes in a variety of bold color options.
16. Sensory Canoe by Fun & Function
This sensory canoe by Fun and Function is perfect for the child who seeks proprioceptive input.
It’s an inflatable canoe-shaped seat that hugs the body from 360 degrees.
This is an incredible way to support your child’s sense of calm.
17. Felt Slip Resistant Ball
- The Luno is a stylish sitting ball chair that inflates to between 22in. to 24in. and can support up…
One issue I’ve run into with stability balls is that they can slip at times.
For my ADHD home and homeschool, this defeats the purpose of non-disruptive active sitting.
I recently came across this Felt covered stability chair with slip-resistant pads on the bottom. Genius idea!
Plus, the cover is removable and washable.
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18. Indoor Sensory Swing
- 【Hug-Like Sensory Swing】TOPARCHERY sensory swing can give children a sense of calm, like being…
We’ve had this indoor sensory swing for years and it’s been a great addition to our homeschool.
If your child seeks both proprioceptive and vestibular input, this indoor sensory swing is a fantastic option.
Have your child or teen hop in and review spelling words, and vocabulary, or have them read while in the sensory swing.
There are so many ways to think outside the box to improve learning.
19. A Crash Pad
There’s nothing like a crash pad as an alternative seating option for fidgety kids. If you have a child who enjoys lying in the prone position, let them.
Lying in prone position on a crash pad:
- provides proprioceptive input
- strengthens core muscles
- improves eye movement
Give your child a clipboard, a pencil, and their assignments, and have them do schoolwork on a crashpad.
What Does the Research Say?
An American Journal of Occupational Therapy reported there’s evidence that using alternative seating such as sensory chairs improves attention in children with ADHD.
Further, they reported that seating alternatives providing vestibular input resulted in higher parent ratings of ADHD symptoms.
A Journal of Physical Therapy Science compared sitting in a traditional therapy ball to sitting in a regular chair.
Researchers noted significant improvement in attentional ability when children with ADHD sat on a therapy ball rather than a chair.
As you’ve seen, there is an abundance of seating alternatives available to support kids with ADHD.
More importantly, researchers are beginning to put forth the effort to study the effectiveness and differences in order to improve seating options.
Positive ADHD Behavior Support
Offering ADHD kids alternative seating options is a positive behavior support strategy.
Specifically, alternative seating honors the needs of the child.
This is in contrast to the traditional behaviorism approach that blames the child.
In the end, sensory-friendly seating options are a worthwhile support tool for ADHD students.
Whether you need chairs for kids with ADHD for your home, homeschool, or an entire class of students, there’s an option out there for you.
Recap: Chairs for Kids with ADHD
When choosing the right sensory chair, focus on the unique needs of your ADHD child. Keep the following variables in mind.
- Does your child tend to fidget?
- Is your child struggling with focus and attention?
- If your child has had a recent PRIVATE occupational therapy evaluation, check the eval for notes about sensory integration and sensory modulation
- Specifically, does your child seek proprioception (do they tend to hit, stomp their feet, or crash into walls or others)?
- Or does your child seek vestibular input (do they enjoy spinning, flipping, or swinging on the swings)?
The more you understand your ADHD child’s sensory needs, the better equipped you’ll be to support your child’s executive functioning.
So, what say you? Thoughts on these ADHD chair options? Did I miss some of your favorites?
Homeschooling the Dysregulated Child: Self-Regulation, sensory systems in your home and homeschool!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
