Theme parks and summer seem to go hand in hand : fun, food, rides, loud music, colors, lights, crowds and more crowds. To many, this is what energizes us and makes us want to go back for more. However, for some….and for those with Autism or sensory issues…these very things can make the experience overwhelming and unbearable. Dollywood Theme Park (Pigeon Forge, TN) has added a “calming room”” for those guests that need to retreat for some quiet time, some calming-down, and some relaxing. The idea for this first-of-its-kind room was the idea of Team Leader, Judy Toth , who was noticing  a huge swell of kids with autism spectrum disorders coming through the park’s ride accessibility center. Parents had been using bathrooms and the park’s first aid station for places to help their kids avoid or recover from sensory overload. This room, not only, provides a space for their guests, but also, provides an example of forward thinking regarding the continued acknowledged increase in cases of people diagnosed with autism and autism spectrum disorders.  

The room is small, with comfy chairs, a tent, low-level lighting, and many sensory-soothing items like strings of fiber-optic lights and was designed in conjunction with Autism Speaks. Judy Toth has been quoted as saying, “If not for the new room, many recent visitors probably never would’ve gotten to experience coming to a theme park”. The reviews have been extremely positive and typical comments include the following: “A big thank you to Dollywood from our family and the autism community,” one parent wrote on Dollywood’s Facebook page. Another parent wrote, “On my son’s first trip to Dollywood he became overstimulated and had a terrible meltdown… If we had a room like that to escape to, things may have been different.” As a result, many families are getting to stay at Dollywood longer and their children are having a much better time. Although this is the first calming room of its kind at any theme park, others—notably Legoland—are beginning to follow Dollywood’s example. 

These theme parks should be applauded for making travel easier for families everywhere.office chair parts dallas txIn the early 20th century, progressive educator John Dewey famously unbolted desks from the floor, arguing that the quality of one’s education stems from experience. patio chair cushions ikeaToday, both educators and researchers alike have taken Dewey’s enlightened thinking one step further by acknowledging movement not only encourages activity and discourages sedentary behavior, but also enhances students’ ability to engage in learning.crown royal chair for sale For decades, students have spent the majority of their time in class sitting in furniture that restricts movement, but that is beginning to change thanks to innovative designs from Smith System.dentist chair for sale cape town

Traditional classroom seating is rigid, static and restrictive when it comes to allowing movement and, for some students, sitting still for hours on end is a real challenge.antique mission chairs for sale For these students–some of which may have learning disabilities such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or even sensory perception disorders–having the ability to move about freely is critically important when it comes to being able to focus on classroom work.big joe chair couch Yet, many schools still aim to tame student’s physical movements, rather than incorporate them into the learning process. massage chairs made in australiaFor students who need to fidget to focus, this sort of restrictive nature can curtail their overall learning potential.folding chair rental

Fortunately, many schools around the country are radically changing their approach to classroom design to include active seating , which encourages movement and allows fidgety students to focus on the lesson, rather than the challenge of sitting still.allen beach chair for sale Want more information on student seating? Download our Student Seating Buyers Guide. Active sitting, also known as dynamic sitting, is seating that naturally encourages us to stay in motion, rather than passively relaxing into a slouch or attempt to rigidly hold a “correct” pose. The Furniture Industry Research Association argues that, unlike traditional classroom seating, active seating, “accommodates natural movements and boasts a range of benefits including better spinal positions, muscle stimulation, blood circulation, and neurochemical processes that promote concentration.” One of the simplest examples of active seating is a “sitting donut,” which is a flat circular air filled rubber disk that can be placed on a chair or on the floor to encourage user movement.

Students will find a way to move around regardless of the type of chair they’re sitting in. Because traditional school seating lacks the flexibility of active sitting, students often resort to creating their own movement by leaning the chair back on two legs and frequently shifting their position on the chair. Forced movement such as this can lead to tight muscles, soreness or even physical injury. Movement, when channeled correctly, actually helps students focus. A 2008 research study found that children need to move while conducting a complicated mental task, according to a National Education Association article. The study also found that “children, especially those with ADHD fidgeted more when a task required them to store and process information rather than just hold it. This is why students are often restless while doing math or reading, but not while watching a movie.” Active seating is fidget-friendly, so, for children who squirm in their seats and can’t resist the impulse to move, it’s a way to channel their excess energy into constructive activities.

Active seating acknowledges a child’s need to move, but at the same time, keeps them sitting still enough so that teachers and other students may continue lessons uninterrupted. This is in contrast to forward-facing and rigid seating, which can result in poor attention, poor memory and ultimately, lower achievement scores. In turn, this has an impact on teachers, principals and administrators, who have to have to spend extra time and resources to keep these students engaged in class. While it’s true that some students may need to move around more than others, all students stand to benefit from the merits of active seating. Smith System has multiple active seating options, such as the Flavors™ Noodle™ Chair as well as both the Plato and Intuit seating lines. While the Flavors™ Noodle™ Chair allows for the most movement, the standard Flavors, Plato and Intuit chairs all offer ergonomic advantages over traditional school seating. To expand, the Noodle Chair offers back support and is designed to integrate seamlessly with Smith System’s existing Flavors Seating product line.

This is especially helpful if the majority of students in a class use traditional or non-active school seating. The particularly antsy student in class assigned to the Noodle chair is able to blend in and avoid the risk of being seen as different or outsiders because of his or her needs. The Flavors™ Noodle™ Chair looks like an average classroom chair but discreetly houses a patented suspension system underneath the seat pan that allows students to shift slightly to the back, front and both sides. Its discreet design helps students feel comfortable. In addition, it has prominent cutouts in the back, which means that if a student wants to turn around or face another direction, he or she does not necessarily have to turn the entire chair around. This is an example of how the Flavors™ Noodle™ Chair allows for student movement without disrupting the learning process, other students, or the teacher. In today’s fast paced world of iPads, instant gratification and continuously narrowing attention spans, keeping a child engaged and sitting still in class can be a considerable task.