Yes, this post is about bean bag chairs. But bear with me for a bit, first. Our son has high-functioning autism. My wife, Natania, has written about our journey extensively over at GeekMom. One of his big issues is with sensory integration. Basically, there’s a neurological dysfunction within his brain that causes him to have issues processing stimulation. When he’s stressed out, he’ll push himself into a corner, stroke his face, or grab the arms of a nearby parent and envelope himself with us. He loves massages and getting his head rubbed more than anyone I know. When we got our first massive bean bag from Sumo, he fell in love almost immediately. He’d run into it, headlong, and just let it surround him. He fell asleep in it, wrapped in blankets and snoring softly. He joked about replacing his bed with it. So when we got the chance to check out the new Sumo Omni Plus, we decided it was time to put one in his room. One minor problem, though: there wasn’t enough space.

And as funny as it was for him to joke, we weren’t getting rid of his bed in favor of a bean bag. So we had to wait until we moved to our new house earlier this month to unpack it. In case you’ve never gotten one of these massive bean bags through the mail, they come in deceptively (and, if you’re an eight-year-old boy, disappointingly) small boxes. But as soon as you open the box, the thing expands like a life raft. When we finally got his new bedroom painted and set up, we positioned the Omni Plus in a special nook and let it expand out to its full 6 feet by 5 feet dimensions. It fit just right, and gives our son a perfect place to cuddle up with a book or iPad in the privacy of his own room. It has a thick suede cover that unzips off the chair and can be thrown into a washing machine, and, while it’s a big chair, it’s relatively lightweight (around 40 pounds). Now, I’m not saying that the Omni Plus is perfect for all kids with sensory issues. This particular model isn’t quite as big and all-enveloping as the big red Gigantor in our living room or the Emperor that GeekMom Ruth Suehle has, for instance.

And some folks might balk at the $199 price tag, which is, in all honesty, totally reasonable when compared to other big, high-quality chairs from other places. All I can say is that we enjoy our Sumos in this household, and with a one-week return policy (you pay %15 restocking and shipping), the Omni Plus is a pretty fair bet. I received a Sumo Omni Plus bean bag for this review.table and chair rentals winston salem nc Get the GeekDad Books!louis ghost chair dubaiMany people are sharing the different ways they use a furniture bean bag chair to make their home more inviting. high chair bloom frescoThere are so many different ways to use and love a Fombag that we thought you might appreciate hearing what some furniture bean bag chair users are up to!bentwood rocking chair for sale

We all know that pets love sitting on your furniture bean bag chair. But there are other ways a Fombag can help a pet out. If you’ve got an older or smaller dog, then a furniture bean bag chair might be a great alternative to unsightly staircase ramps. Just place a Fombag next to your bed or sofa to give your little pets a boost up. the egg chair by fritz hansenThey also create a nice landing pad on the way down! antilop high chair assembly instructionsA furniture bean bag chair can help prevent injury—especially when your pet could be jumping down onto a slippery hardwood floor. Some people have reported that furniture bean bag chair are great for children with sensory integration problems. Children find Fombags to be a safe and comfortable place that they can call their own. In a similar vein, people in casts can benefit from furniture bean bag chairs by using them as soft and modifiable supports.

Furniture bean bag chairs can help you when you have unexpected company. Simply store a few extra Fombags in a closet or spare room and pull them out when you need more seating. Your guests will love that you thought about their comfort. Imagine a fun game night with everyone in furniture bean bag chairs! If you’re a caterer, you might enjoy this fun idea. Use furniture bean bag chairs as table base supports for a formal occasion. Simply place clear glass round tops on top of the Fombags. Your guests will be delighted by the creative and innovative concept. You’ll be able to see the colored furniture bean bag chairs through the glass. There are many ways you can update your home and your life with furniture bean bag chair. Parents can make use of these simple sensory integration activities and exercises to complement occupational therapy sessions that their child may be receiving. The activity suggestions on this page are aimed primarily at children with sensory modulation difficulties.

These children may be If these terms are new to you, pop over and read my information page on sensory processing disorder to get a better understanding. If your child is receiving occupational therapy, please ensure you check the suitability of the activities with your child's therapist! Sensory integration activities can prompt the brain to process sensory information more effectively, helping the child respond more appropriately to the environment. Here are a few simple ideas to help you get started: A “sensory corner” can provide stimulation to the under-responsive child, sensory input for the sensory seeking child, and a safe retreat for the sensory defensive child. Make a "Sensory Corner" by blocking off a corner of the room and using soft furnishings with a variety of textures. A big comfy beanbag provides wonderful deep pressure and a snuggly effect which can be very calming. Some children find a lava lamp or fish aquarium soothing to look at,

and others appreciate having headphones with which they can listen to A sensory box in the corner filled with objects that have different textures and weights can be useful for your child. In the beginning, offer a variety of objects eg smooth wood, velvet, squishy textures and stretchy objects, until your child discovers a favorite object or two. Fiddling with or touching these objects could be soothing for an overstimulated child, or calming for a child who is wound up and sensory seeking. Information from the muscles and joints is called proprioception. Proprioceptive activities can be passive, where deep pressure is given to the child, or active, where the child actively takes part in a heavy work activity. Proprioceptive activities are excellent sensory integration activities for kids who are always craving movement and crashing into things. They can also help stimulate a lethargic child. Let your child lie on a mat or folded blanket and pack pillows on top to make him into a pizza or sandwich.

Very Important: Never cover your child's face!! Weighted vests, weighted blankets and lap blankets are also effective ways to give passive proprioceptive input. You can view some of these at PFOT. (This is an affiliate link) Your child may also enjoy being wrapped in a blanket or snuggling in a beanbag for some proprioceptive stimulation. The child in the photo is sitting in a snug kiddie armchair and using a hand-held massager. The snugness of the chair helps him feel secure and the massager gives him deep vibration and proprioceptive input. My kids love the input the massager gives them on their arm and leg muscles. Heavy work activities help your child to really “feel” their muscles and joints. Let your child carry groceries, sweep the yard, dig in the garden, or any other activity that lets their muscles work hard. Jumping on a trampoline and climbing on playground equipment also gives good proprioceptive input. If your child struggles to sit still to listen to a lesson, then try a stress ball to squeeze, chewing gum, or a special chew toy to give proprioception input.

Go To For OT has some excellent heavy work activity ideas on this page: ”What Are Heavy Work Activities?” (opens in a new tab/window) Most movement activities will stimulate the vestibular system in the inner ear, which helps the body to know how it is moving and how fast it is moving. Depending on their intensity, vestibular activities can be stimulating for an under-responsive child, or calming for a sensory seeking or over-responsive child. Trampolines, rocking horses, swings, roundabouts or slides are all good vestibular activities. Here are a few vestibular exercises you can try in the classroom, as well! A child who is gravitationally insecure may fear movement and avoid escalators, elevators and playground apparatus. They need to experience very gentle, safe movement. It will be less scary for them to move while sitting or lying down, rather than while standing up, or to try a gentle activity while being held by a parent. Try gentle bouncing on a trampoline while lying or sitting, swinging on a

very low swing, and rocking on a rocking horse. Be careful not to force a fearful child to take part in an activity – be guided by your child's reactions. Some children chew excessively on clothing, pencils and other inappropriate objects. They are usually seeking tactile and proprioceptive input through their mouths, perhaps to help themselves concentrate or to reduce anxiety. Blowing bubbles in a bowl of water with a straw, drinking thick milkshake/yogurt through a straw and blowing on harmonicas are activities that can help meet a child's oral-motor needs.Some kids benefit from chewing gum, while others need something more durable. PFOT carry a range of oral-motor products, while MamaOT has 5 tips to help kids who chew on everything! I review a variety of books on sensory processing over here. There are books for children and preteens as well as for parents, teachers and therapists! Weighted blankets, sensory toys, and lots more to help kids with SPD!