Hey, friends! I wanted to share a new sensory tool with you… bouncy bands! Whether we like it or not, so many of our kiddos have wiggles they need to get out. I’m a pretty laid back teacher. My students are allowed to sit, stand, or ride their chair when they work if they’d like as long as they are working. But some of their activity can also be distracting to their neighbors {and me, haha}. So when I was contacted to try out the Bouncy Bands, I decided to give them a shot.
Tada! They’re the perfect way for students to get the wiggles out while remaining seated. They’re also quiet– love that!
The Bouncy Bands are made from recycled bicycle inner tubes attached to PVC pipe. The original version is designed to fit desks with all 4 legs separate, so mine had to be modified a bit since my front and back legs are attached in the center.
On a regular desk, you’d simply slip the inner tube loops up over the front legs and then slide the PVC tube over as well to hold the rubber in place.
Our occupational therapist came in while I was installing mine and said she’s had luck using bungee cords in a similar way, but I like that all of the design work was taken care of for me this way. 🙂
After trying it for a week, I’d say it’s definitely a keeper! I put the band on an extra desk so I could rotate several students through with the chance to use it. Some of them were fans and some of them weren’t, which is pretty typical of other interventions too.
Pros:
- quiet
- quick install
- can’t tell students are using it (as opposed to wiggle seats where they’re bouncing around)
Cons:
- doesn’t work well for students in groups (their feet touch)
- may need to be modified to fit your unique desks
If you’re interested in grabbing a bouncy band for yourself, you can visit their website. I think it’s definitely worth having at least a couple that students can share!
I've used bungee cords on my kiddos' chairs for a few years. They work really well.