Strategies for Early Childhood Educators and Teachers to Reduce Children Climbing Furniture and Pushing Others
As a Developmental Educator I've had the opportunity to coach educators worldwide. Time and again, I've encountered a common challenge: children climbing furniture, pushing, shoving, and engaging in other disruptive behaviours in an attempt to seek proprioceptive input.
These experiences led me to create this video to address the crucial role of proprioception in the classroom and offer practical strategies for teachers to create a more sensory-friendly learning environment.
 Proprioception, one of our eight senses, refers to our body's ability to sense its position and movement in space, and it's far more important to classroom dynamics than many realise.
Understanding Proprioception
In my work, I've seen firsthand how proprioception plays a crucial role in a child's ability to feel safe, secure, and connected in their environment. It helps children understand:
- Where their body is in relation to itself (e.g., how far their finger is from their nose)
- Where they are in relation to their surroundings (e.g., distance from furniture or other people)
When children struggle with proprioception, it can manifest in various behaviours that may be disruptive in a classroom setting. As an educator myself, I've observed behaviours such as:
- Fidgeting or rocking in chairs
- Falling off chairs
- Bumping into other children
- In extreme cases: hitting, kicking, biting, or turning over furniture
The Importance of Sensory-Friendly Classrooms
Through my years of coaching and observation, I've come to emphasise that these behaviours are not intentionally disruptive. Rather, they're a child's attempt to meet an unmet sensory need. By creating a proprioception-friendly classroom, we as educators can help children feel more grounded and focused, potentially reducing these challenging behaviours.
Strategies for a Proprioception-Friendly Classroom
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Alternative Seating Options
- Washing baskets
- Bilbo chairs
- Bean bags
- Therabands wrapped around chair legs
- Fitballs or wobble chairs
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Regular Movement Breaks
- Implement breaks every 30-40 minutes
- Use active learning games (e.g., throwing bean bags at answers, stomping on maths equations)
- Incorporate tug-of-war or parachute play
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Classroom "Heavy Jobs"
- Wiping boards and tables
- Moving chairs or tubs
- Sweeping floors
- Spraying plants with water
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Sensory-Rich Transitions
- Hopscotch at the classroom door
- Animal walks between tasks
- Mini obstacle courses
Implementation Tips
- Start small and gradually incorporate more strategies
- Involve older students or student teachers in running movement breaks
- Set clear expectations and routines for sensory activities
- Be creative in adapting current lessons to include more movement
By implementing these strategies, we can create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students, particularly those with proprioceptive needs. Remember, the goal is to help children feel safe, secure, and ready to learn.
In my experience coaching educators around the world, I've seen remarkable changes in classroom dynamics when these proprioception-friendly strategies are implemented. Children who once struggled to sit still or frequently disrupted class became more engaged and focused. It's not about eliminating movement, but rather about channeling it in productive ways that support learning.
As educators, we have the power to transform our classrooms into spaces that honour the sensory needs of all children. It may require some creativity and flexibility on our part, but the benefits – improved focus, reduced disruptive behaviours, and happier, more engaged students – are well worth the effort.
For more resources and support on creating sensory-friendly classrooms, feel free to reach out to me at Play Move Improve. Together, we can make our classrooms more inclusive, engaging, and conducive to learning for all children.
