How to Teach an Autistic Child to Sit in a Chair

Co-authored by George Sachs, PsyD

Last Updated: March 29, 2022

Sitting in a chair can be an uncomfortable experience for an autistic child. Here is how to help them feel comfortable and willing to sit.

Steps

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1
Make your goal comfort, not sitting still. Autistic children usually need more sensory input than the average child, so a bit of fidgeting is natural to keep them comfortable. Try different things so that the child is happy to sit in the chair, and that their fidgeting does not interfere with their concentration.
- Talk to them about "sitting calmly": sitting in the chair, fidgeting as needed, and being able to focus.
- If they can't "sit calmly", then they need a way to get more sensory input. Teach them to recognize this, and ask for a break to stim or move around. Learning to ask for a break is an important skill for autistic children.^{[1]
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during other parts of the day. Exercise provides an outlet for excess energy and improves mood (among other benefits). Try to incorporate time outdoors into the child's daily routine. This way, they won't need to fidget constantly.^{[2]
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3
Try a sensory seat wedge. Seat wedges provide extra sensory input, reducing the need to fidget and wiggle.^{[3]
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Research source} Explain to the child that the wedge is like a cushion, and will help them sit calmly.
- Sit on the wedge to demonstrate that it is comfortable and safe.
- Seat wedges may come with tactile bumps. Explain how they can run their fingers along the bumps.
These provide deep pressure, which helps them feel grounded. They can also gently fidget by feeling the fabric and beads inside it.
They can bounce on it slightly while still concentrating on what's in front of them, and it provides an outlet for excess energy. Additionally, it can help with balance problems (something many autistic children struggle with).^{[4]
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6
Provide some basic stim toys. Mild to moderate stimming can improve focus (in neurotypicals as well as autistic people). Try giving the child a stress ball, a tangle, a tiny beanbag, or something they can manipulate in one hand while their other hand works on the task before them.
- Experiment with different stim toys and find out what the child likes best.
- Get a bin of different stim toys. Before the child goes to sit down, ask them to run to the bin and pick out a stim toy to use at their chair.
Try playing board games on the table, drawing pictures together, or reading a fun story. Let the child take breaks to jump around and stim if needed. This will help them learn that sitting can be enjoyable.

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If the child needs breaks to stim, teach them how to say "I need a quick break." This helps them self-monitor and assert themselves. Breaks to jump around or spin allow them to release excess energy, so they can sit back down and sit calmly again.^{[5]
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Bouncing on an exercise ball is best done when they are talking to someone, or doing something that doesn't involve fine motor skills. Too much bouncing during mealtimes is not recommended, due to potential choking hazards.

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