The Benefits of Bean Bag Chairs for Kids With Autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders characterized by significant impairment in social interactions, communication difficulties and repetitive, compulsive behavior. Approximately 1 in 150 children in the United States are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. It is common for a child with an ASD to have an additional diagnosis of sensory integration dysfunction. This means that the child's brain doesn't process the sensory information it receives in a coherent, organized way. Therapy for autistic children with sensory processing difficulties often involves weight-bearing exercises and deep sensory input. For these kids, beanbag chairs are a low-cost therapeutic tool.
As a seating option, bean chairs help autistic children who have poor muscle tone, or hypotonia, which is a common problem with kids on the autism spectrum. Hypotonia isn't a medical disorder; rather, it's the name of the symptom resulting from any combination of neurological and muscle disorders that cause overall muscle weakness. Researchers are still looking into why kids on the autism spectrum often have hypotonia, but it is more challenging to address in children than adults by virtue of the fact that many weight-bearing exercises involve the use of adult-sized, overly heavy equipment.
Bean bag chairs have just enough weight to act as a weight-bearing exercise tool for kids on the spectrum. A child may use it for weight-lifting with his arms or legs. Additionally, because of the palpable inner components, a bean bag chair provides sensory feedback during weight-training exercises. Their flexible shape allows kids and therapists to shape and mold the chairs for whatever purpose they need.
Bean bag chairs help hypotonia in kids with autism in other ways. Many kids on the autism spectrum find it uncomfortable to sit in traditional chairs. The use of bean bag chairs in the home may provide kids on the autism spectrum with comfortable alternatives, since the chair molds itself to the child's body while providing the sensory feedback of its filler material. In an autism classroom, a teacher may use bean bag chairs for the students at least part of the day. Many kids on the spectrum find the sensory feedback of sitting in a bean bag chair very comforting. Best of all, they're easy to transport and lightweight enough so that even very young children can move them from room to room.
Two bean bag chairs used together can be a helpful therapeutic tool for kids on the spectrum. Many kids with autism find it comforting and calming to have their torsos surrounded by gentle sensory pressure. Some autistic kids like to sit on one bean bag chair while having a second bean bag chair placed across the torso. This gentle weight and the continuous sensory feedback can be very calming and relaxing for a child with autism, helping him to organize his thoughts and center his emotions. Bean bag chairs are more than just a comfortable option for children's furniture - for kids with autism, they can be an important therapeutic tool, too.

With the many features and benefits of beanbags, buying one which provides the comfort and affordability necessary to meet your needs is crucial. Comfy Sacks has bean bags in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Instead of being filled with beans, they are filled with a proprietary blend of shredded polyurethane foam. This guarantees that it will be soft, and durable for years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dario_J._Ruff

Bean Bag Furniture And Autistic Children

Therapists that work with autistic children recommend different types of therapy that involve exposing children to different textures and levels of pressure on the body. Sensory integration therapy helps autistic children learn how to manage sensory input, and deep pressure therapy provides stimulation to the nervous system that helps them calm themselves and focus. Many occupational therapists recommend beanbag furniture as a part of sensory integration and deep pressure therapy with children.

There are many benefits to beanbag furniture for sensory integration therapy. The unique soft, squishy texture of beanbag chairs, pillows and loungers allows children with autism to learn about texture. Children can toss small bean bags, carry medium sized bags around, hug them, or simply flop onto a large beanbag chair to feel the texture all over their body. The experience of the softness of beanbag chairs can also be very calming and relaxing.

Beanbag furniture is the perfect product to provide safe and therapeutic deep pressure for autistic children. With deep pressure therapy, children need to feel pressure on their bodies to stimulate their nervous system. This stimulation allows the child to relax and focus. Since this furniture is filled with shredded foam, children can safely flop onto it or be squished in between two beanbag chairs. The shredded foam provides pressure but is soft enough not to harm the child.

As well as helping autistic children experience textures and pressure, beanbags also offer benefits to parents and therapists. Many beanbag furniture companies offer many different sizes and colors at low prices. Parents can choose from pillows, bag chairs small enough for one child or large enough for several people, as well as many different color options for covers. Many autistic children love one color or texture, so the choice offered by bean bag furniture companies can make buying bean bags for autistic children easy.

Parents and therapists of autistic children can also benefit from the portability and easy cleanup offered by beanbag furniture. A play or therapy area filled with bean bags is easy to rearrange, and most beanbag furniture is light enough to be easily picked up and stored when not in use. Beanbag furniture also comes in covers made from space-age fabrics that can be easily wiped off with a sponge or tossed in the washing machine.

Another great benefit of beanbag furniture to parents and therapists of autistic children is saving money. Not only are most beanbag chairs very affordable, they can be considered tax deductions because they are being used as therapy tools.

With the many features and benefits of a bean bag, buying one which provides the comfort and affordability necessary to meet your needs is crucial. Comfy Sacks has bean bags in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Instead of being filled with beans, they are filled with a proprietary blend of shredded polyurethane foam. This guarantees that it will be soft, and durable for years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dario_J._Ruff