How To Help Students Who Fidget

If you walk into any classroom, you will most likely observe students who fidget.  Perhaps they rock back and forth in the chair, bounce their knees up and down or wiggle in their seats. Frequently, students fidget to stay in an alert state to be ready to learn.  Here are 5 tips to help students who fidget:

1.  Just let the student fidget! – Some research indicates that higher rates of activity level result in significantly better working memory.  If the student is not bothering anyone and it is not impeding their function or educational abilities just let the student fidget.  Maybe provide the student with a stability ball or disc cushion.  
2.  Move the student’s seat – If a student continues to fidget and perhaps is distracting others, can you move his/her seat to a location where it will be less obtrusive.  Perhaps in the back of the classroom so the student can stand.  
3. Provide an object to fidget with the student’s hands or feet. – Maybe the student can rub a small rock to keep his/her fingers busy.  Allow the student to doodle – doodling while writing has been shown to improve memory recall. Tie some theraband around the legs of the desk or chair and the student can fidget his/her feet against the band.
4. Let the student chew gum, drink through a straw or crunch on a snack.  – This may help with focus, attention span and even math skills.
5. Help students get the wiggles out! – Provide frequent movement breaks throughout the day. Research indicates that kids learn better and stay on task after breaks.  Need simple ideas that are easy to implement?  Check out all these brain break ideas.