6 flexible seating ideas that may help your kid focus

Not all bodies and brains function the same, so why should all chairs be identical? For people with autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, or other neurodiverse considerations, flexible seating chairs may be the key to success in school, the workplace, and even when settling down for bed.

But what is flexible seating, and why does it help? After reaching out to Allyson Chrystal, chief clinical officer of Westside Children's Therapy and a licensed occupational therapist, she explained the answers to my questions.

Once I understood why it’s important to think beyond the chair, I was convinced flexible seating chairs have the potential to improve concentration, productivity, and quality of life for individuals on the neurodiverse spectrum. As such, I was determined to find a flexible seating idea that worked for my kids both inside and outside the classroom.

What is flexible seating?

Flexible seating is a seating option that falls outside what would be considered a traditional chair. Designed to be used as a chair, but not always looking like one, flexible seating chairs are created specifically for sitting on, while also offering the added benefit of sensory input, fidget release, and adaptive stability.

Here are a few flexible seating ideas to consider. Some of these are discussed in greater detail below.

• Stability ball
• Wobble seats
• Moon Pod bean bag chairs
• Wiggle cushion
• Inflatable peapod
• Cube chair

There are many more options beyond these staples, of course, and each one offers the user a different sensory experience regardless of whether it’s used in a classroom or at home.

Why is flexible seating important?

Like standing desks and lap desks, flexible seating choices can keep users stimulated for longer and increase productivity through work and education. Because of this, they make great office chairs for autistic adults or engaging wiggle chairs for classrooms.

Not all people are wired to sit still, and it’s not uncommon for the urge to move, wiggle, or fidget to become so distracting that it overpowers an individual’s ability to concentrate on anything else.

When that happens, focus is lost. This is common in cases of autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorders due to the brain's inability to calm itself, which, in turn, drives a desire to move or stim.

As Chrystal explains, “In kids, for example, many are movement-driven, meaning they benefit from movement to feel regulated and engaged. A standard classroom chair is designed for upright, still posture, so kids will often try to find the movement they crave unsafely—tipping or rocking the chair, sitting on edge of the chair—which drives their attention to the chair, not the teacher or lesson.”

In adults, that desire to move often appears as the inability to concentrate or an avoidance of certain tasks. It may feel impossible to sit down and tackle a project.

But that’s what makes flexible seating chairs such a game changer. They are designed to offer practical movement releases or continuous calming sensory pressure, while maintaining the user’s ability to stay seated and focused.

“When a flexible seating option like a wiggle cushion, ball chair, or wobble stool is used, it allows for natural, safe movement, so individuals can feel regulated and able to successfully attend,” explains Chrystal.

Classroom flexible seating ideas

Students love classrooms that adapt to their changing moods. As such, flexible seating can do a lot for classroom management, improving group and solo work, and encouraging creativity in seating arrangements. Teachers might even experience better discussion and see more participation from students who aren’t in the front of the classroom.

What flexible seating chairs are available for classroom or home?

It may feel overwhelming when you realize how many flexible seating options are available, but there are a few factors worth considering to narrow down your search.

Aside from determining your desired price point, you’ll also want to think about the space you have available and ensure your floor is compatible with the type of seat you choose. After all, you don’t want your flexible seat to slip, dent, or scuff your floors. The most important consideration is knowing what kind of sensory input calms the person using the seat.

“For one person, their nervous system may benefit from movement opportunities to feel regulated,” Chrystal says. “For another, seating that provides input to joints and muscles (i.e. ‘proprioceptive input’) may help regulate and engage. Flexible seating allows people to choose what kind of seat best meets their needs,” she says, emphasizing that “a good rule of thumb is 'observation first!'”

“When we observe a child in a standard chair, it's helpful to see what their body does naturally to regulate the nervous system. Are they fidgeting, rocking the chair on its back legs, or tapping a pencil on a desk? Those are good signs that this person could benefit from a seating option with safe movement.

“Or rather, are they draped over the desk on forearms, leaning their head into their hands, or wrapping their legs around the legs of their chair? Those are good signs this person needs proprioceptive (pressure through joints) input to feel ready to engage,” Chrystal explains.

All in all, Chrystal admits that “sometimes, it's trial and error. Trying different seating options is also a great way to learn what feels best.”

Movement-driven flexible seating chairs

Trideer Wobble Cushion

For kids who like movement, a great flexible seating idea is a wobble cushion. Providing ample outlet for movement, wobble cushions are low to the ground, so kids won’t risk falling and getting hurt.

Their design also keeps children stationary and facing the teacher. Even while they are moving, users aren’t actually leaving the space in which they need to be. In testing, I found the highly rated Trideer Wobble Cushion from Amazon to be a quality product at a phenomenal price.

$24 at Amazon

UrbnFit Exercise Ball

For older kids and adults, a fitness ball is a wonderful flexible seating solution. Not only does it provide an opportunity for movement, but, as Spine-health points out, sitting on a stability ball has also been known to strengthen core muscles, improve posture, and relieve back pain.

Testing one with my son, who is homeschooled and also has autism, I found the Amazon-favorite Urbn Exercise Ball helped him stay focused and attentive to his schoolwork for a longer period of time.

From $12 at Amazon

Increased-stability flexible seating chairs

Cube chairs

Cube chairs provide increased stability and contact with the floor, mimicking what a typical chair provides adults, but sized down to better suit the sensory needs of a child. In other words, there are no more dangling legs or improper seat sizes.

These are a wildly popular option, and a staple item for anyone who works therapeutically with kids who have atypical sensory needs. Both my son with autism and my younger son—who has sensory-seeking needs due to low muscle tone as part of his physical disability—use cube chairs in therapy and classrooms. We even use them at home to support their bodies while increasing their attention to a task.

Because their design is so similar to traditional chairs, cube chairs can even be used in standard classroom arrangements, making them a great option for students.

Historically only offered at a medical-device price, you can now find cube chairs on Amazon for a steep discount.

$59 at Amazon

Calming-input flexible seating chairs

Moon Pod

When grounding compression is the calming factor in sitting still, you can hardly go wrong with a Moon Pod. A zero-gravity chair designed to reduce stress and anxiety in children and adults, the Moon Pod is a soft seat that seems to melt around your body while providing a perfect blend of comfort and support.

This is by far my son’s favorite flexible seating option when he’s trying to relax and focus, given that he drags it from room to room whether he is reading a book, watching a movie, or trying to decompress.

From $89 at Moon Pod