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When my DS5 reads to me (we homeschool), he can't keep his buns still (or hands or feet). He fell off of his counter chair at one point, yelling "I'm okay!" when he stopped reading and disappeared all of a sudden one time when I wasn't right next to him. lol If I have him read to me on the sofa, he melts into me; so we need a table setting. I usually sit with him and underline words with my finger (when we are reading smaller print materials); so I am right next to him most of the time. Does anyone have any suggestions or something that I could give him to hold, or any other tips that will help him focus and maybe not squirm so much? I don't mind the squirminess; and I get it - my husband is a squirmer as well; but it is distracting him. If he is reading off the computer (time4learning), he is significantly less squirmy. Thanks! p.s. He can sit very still for a very long time if I am reading to him.

What about an exercise ball for him to sit on?

Jim Trelease recommends a basket full of balls and squishy stress objects so boys can pass them from hand to hand under the table while reading. Maybe start with a tennis ball, a koosh, and a stress ball?
http://www.starmagic.com/KooshBalls.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310237907243&rvr_id=146883870820&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WXF%3F&GUID=4165d0471290a0aad1f39fd3ffbb4b8f&itemid=310237907243&ff4=263602_263622

dt75, I thought of a stress ball; but I didn't know what to have him do with it. Thank you!

no5, He probably needs one for balance; but he only likes playing with it. He doesn't have that balance yet. Maybe in the future though; so thanks!

I have used something similar to an exercise ball for squirmy kids, called a Sit Fit. It is an air cushion placed on the chair. It might be easier to sit on then the ball.

I just found an article why this would help...thank you. I was sincerely curious. Here it is if anyone else would like to know. I don't think that my son has ADHD; but who knows at this point.:)
http://www.examiner.com/k-12-in-rochester/fit-ball-balance-disc-tools-for-students-with-adhd

Thanks for the article. That has been my experience seeing them in action in the classroom.

I think that all (okay, maybe not ALL) 5yos have extra energy and can benefit from many strategies aimed at children with ADHD. I have questioned whether or not my DD5 has ADHD on more than one occasion. Is it just being 5 or is it something more?

I ordered one for him (and one for me, although I'm not squirmy:) to see if it helps; if not, it is actually an exercise seat that is supposed to help with your core. I'm all for trying things that may help him without doing damage. It could just be being 5 and an energetic kid.:)

DS6.5 has NEVER been squirmy until this year. Now he's overly squirmy. He taps his foot or his pencil or moves every which way but still, even when he plays video games/computer games. I have never seen him this bad before. If he has a stress ball, he loses focus unless he's very interested in whatever is in front of him. Trying to figure out what works has not been fun.

There are a lot of funny stories about moving body parts and famous scientists.

One has Feynman lying in bed having convulsions. Or so his roomies thought.

He was merely working so hard on a problem in his mind with his body mirroring his mental contortions!!