School Aid: Keep Fidgety Bodies Busy With Sensory Kick Bands

Sensory kick bands are a type of sensory tool used in occupational therapy to help children regulate and organize their sensory system during the school day. These easy to attach resistance bands provide the learner with tactile and proprioceptive sensory input which can help decrease anxiety, increase focus, and instill a sense calm. In this resource you’ll find a sensory processing overview, how sensory processing differences can impact the classroom, red flags often seen, benefits of using kick bands in the classroom, and a quick tutorial for how to set up these fidget bands either at home or in the classroom.

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What Are Sensory Kick Bands?

Sensory kick bands, also known as fidget bands or bouncy bands, are a type of sensory support device often recommended by occupational therapists (OTs). These handy little sensory bands are often used in the classroom, but can also be set up at home. The elastic bands are typically made using resistance bands or exercise bands that are tied around the front legs of the child’s chair. Manufactured bouncy bands which slide over the legs of the chair can be purchased in bulk for classrooms.

How It Works

While seated, the child “kicks” or moves the elastic bands with their feet back and forth or bounces their feet up and down against the bands. Through this heavy work movement, the child is provided with proprioceptive and tactile sensory input. Tactile and proprioceptive sensory input are essential in helping to regulate the nervous system. This type of sensory input can help children better focus their attention, decrease anxiety, and help organize and self-regulate the sensory system. Let’s look a little further into sensory processing as well as tactile and proprioceptive sensory input before we go further into the details of kick bands.

Sensory Processing and Proprioceptive + Tactile Input

Sensory processing is a neurological process that is used to receive, interpret and respond to sensory information from the 8 senses.

The 8 senses include:

Hearing (auditory)
Sight (vision)
Touch (tactile)
Taste (gustatory)
Smell (olfactory)
Interoception (internal state of awareness)
Vestibular (balance and movement)
Proprioception (body awareness)

Our senses allow us to experience the world around us, enjoy it and protect ourselves when needed. The information received from the surrounding environment allows us to respond in an appropriate way. However, when someone has difficulty processing sensory information, sensory signals may be misinterpreted. One or more of the senses may over- or underreact to sensory information causing difficulties responding effectively to stimuli in the environment.

Let’s look a little deeper into both proprioception and tactile sensory input, and how both of those can impact the classroom environment.

Tactile Sensory Input

The tactile sense provides us with information received through the sense of touch including temperature, pain, and pressure (light tough, deep pressure, and vibrations). Specialized receptors in our skin detect tactile sensations from the environment. These sensations are then sent to the brain to be interpreted allowing us to understand what we are touching. The tactile sense helps us to understand not only what we are touching, but also how to respond to those sensations. Is it hot? Cold? Slimy?

Children who show difficulties processing tactile information can appear agitated by touch, avoids messy play, irritated by certain fabric textures, tags, and seams in clothing, gags at certain food textures, and may even perceive light tough as being painful. Teeth brushing and combing hair can be a difficult and sometimes a painful experience.

This sense helps us to understand spatial relationships and body awareness, develop motor skills, respond quickly to stimuli, emotional wellbeing, cognitive development, and self-regulation.

Proprioceptive Sensory Input

Proprioception provides information in regards to our bodies’ position in space. Information received from the muscles, tendons and joints tell us where our limbs are positioned, how much force to apply, and knowing how and when to move our bodies. This sense, along with the tactile sense, is crucial in how we interact with the world around us.

Proprioception plays an important role in self-regulation, body awareness, focused attention, and coordination. Often children who show difficulties processing proprioceptive information often appear clumsy, trip often, and have coordination differences.

Sensory Processing In the Classroom

When we take in and organize sensory information from the classroom environment, we use that information to carry out meaningful reactions. In some cases of sensory processing differences, sometimes averse reactions occur. For example, some might respond strongly to loud noises, bright lights, or being touched such as when a child is bumped standing in line. For some, going about the school day without sensory supports can make navigating the school day difficult. Adding sensory supports to the school day can benefit learners throughout the day. Such supports can include:

Sensory breaks or movement breaks
Calming corner or sensory corner
Sensory diet for school
Fidget toys
Weighted lap pads or weighted stuffed animals
Noise cancelling headphones
Sensory bins for independent play
Soft lighting
Mini trampoline with handle bar in the classroom, sensory room, and/or therapy room
Wiggle cushion or therapy ball for alternative seating
Visual supports
Adaptive pencil grips or a weighted pencil
And the sensory kickband that we are making today!

More Sensory Tools for the Classroom

Who Might Benefit From Sensory Kick Bands?

Children who might benefit from kick bands include children who:

Excessive fidgeting
Sensory processing differences
Hyposensitivities to movement (sensory seekers)
Hypersensitivities (overreactive to sensory stimuli and may respond to certain sensations as if they are painful or dangerous)
Displays a need for increased movement
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Neurodivergent
Autistic
Impulsivity
Struggles with inattention
Anxiety
Shows difficulty sitting still
Easily distracted
Seeks movement during the school day (ie: gets up often for a “break” when sitting, needing movement such as during a lecture or when completing work)

Benefits of Sensory Kick Bands

Sensory kick bands can be beneficial in helping to organize and regulate the sensory system so that the child can remain seated with focused and engaged attention for longer periods of time in a classroom setting. Bouncy bands can also be used at home during homework time. Benefits of sensory bounce bands may include:

Improved focus on tasks
Improved classroom and peer engagement
Reduced distractions for other students
Quiet and less disruptive classroom environment
Decrease anxiety
Improve attention and focus
Reduce fidgeting
Improved engagement in learning activities
Able to sit still for longer periods of time
Decrease overreactivity
A simple and accessible sensory tool for the classroom or home use

Purpose of Sensory Kick Bands

Kick bands provide proprioceptive and tactile feedback, which is an important part of sensory regulation, helping to meet the sensory needs of the child. Proprioception is the body’s awareness of position and movement in space. While, on the other hand, tactile sensory input includes information received through the sense of touch. Furthermore, the gentle resistance and movement of the sensory kick bands help students to better understand their body’s position, improve focus, and feel more grounded.

For students who are sensory seekers (hyposensitive), kick bands provide a great way to get consistent movement and tactile input throughout the school day without being overly disruptive to peers. On the other hand, children who are sensory avoiders (hypersensitive), the movement can help organize and regulate their sensory system. This in turn will help meet their sensory needs so that they can better participate in the classroom environment with decreased anxiety.

Occupational Therapy Perspective

School-based and private practice occupational therapists often recommend sensory kick bands as a simple and effective tool to help learners regulate their sensory processing needs. If you have questions or concerns regarding how sensory processing needs may be affecting your learner at school, contact your pediatrician for recommendation for a community based occupational therapy evaluation, or contact your child’s school therapist to discuss your concerns.

The occupational therapist will assess not only sensory processing needs and look into how it may impact daily life both at home, school, and in the community, but can also assess fine motor skills including handwriting and scissoring skills. During the evaluation make sure to discuss any concerns you may have whether at home, school, or within the community and any notable situations.

Occupational therapists, whether they work for the school system or private practice, collaborate with classroom teachers and brainstorm ideas to figure out what might work best for a specific child.

Important Note on Sensory Kick Bands and Occupational Therapy

It is important to note that every child is different, and what works for one child may not work for another child. It is important to consult with your personal occupational therapist (OT) to determine if fidget bands are a good fit for your child or student. Occupational therapists will evaluate a child’s sensory needs, recommend which color exercise band to use based on their specific case, and can provide suggestions for how to introduce and use kick bands effectively in the classroom.

Implementation In The Classroom

Before Introducing Sensory Kick Bands In The Classroom

Discuss with all revelvant educational supports including OTs, speech therapists, and physical therapists, classroom teachers, and parents
Talk with parents about introducing the bouncy bands to their student, its purpose, rules for the sensory kick band use in the classroom (for home reinforcement), and address any concerns.
Make sure the classroom teacher(s) and other learning support staff understand the purpose of the kick bands, how to use in the classroom effectively, benefits and any potential issues that may arise.
Set Clear Rules:
- When and where the kick bands should be used
- How to use them safely and respectfully in the classroom (ie: no stretching excessively, snapping, etc.)
- How to care for them and keep the bands clean (ie: set a cleaning schedule; make sure the kick bands remain tied securely)
- Consequences if the rules are broken
Create an individualized plan for student(s) who may need more support and guidance when using kick bands.

Introducing Sensory Kick Bands To Students

Explain the purpose of the kick bands to the student and how they help with self-regulation and focus during the school day. Note that the fidget bands are not toys.
Show learners how to use the kick bands properly and safely without disturbing peers. Demonstrate appropriate behavior and go over any rules when using the exercise bands.
Discuss any rules, consequences for breaking the rules, and encourage the students to ask questions regarding the bands. Building rapport with the student is important so that the learner feels comfortable discussing concerns regarding the kick bands with either their classroom teacher or therapist.
Gradually introduce the kick bands in short intervals until the student feels comfortable with its use.

Monitoring The Ongoing Use of Sensory Kick Band

Observe the kick bands in use to make sure the student is using it correctly. Observe the learner in the classroom when the kick band is in use to evaluate its effectiveness, and any issues that may arise.
Offer positive feedback when the kick bands are used correctly. Promptly provide feedback if the fidget bands are not being used correctly or are disturbing peers.
Consider other types of sensory tools that may be beneficial to your learner such as a weighted lap pad, wiggle cushion a type of alternative seating for classrooms, and sensory breaks during the school day.

What Color Exercise/Resistance Band Should Be Used?

Your personal occupational therapist will be able to recommend which type (color) of kick band best fits the needs of the student. Exercise or resistance bands come in different colors (yellow, red, green, blue, black, and gray) and each color has a different level of resistance. I purchased a beginner’s set (yellow, red, and green) from Amazon made by Theraband, and will be using yellow with the least resistance.

Based on the child’s needs, your therapist will choose the color that best fits the learner’s needs. Colors yellow and red are most often used for their light resistance. The goal of the sensory kick bands is to provide both proprioceptive and tactile sensory feedback to help regulate the sensory system, not a strenuous workout.

When Should Tennis Balls Be Added To Sensory Kick Bands?

Adding 2 tennis balls under each foot to the sensory kick bands creates an added opportunity for additional sensory feedback. The additional bounce and feel of the tennis balls provide both enhanced tactile and proprioceptive input. This can be helpful in organizing the sensory system for some children in the classroom.

If a child enjoys both tactile and proprioceptive sensory input, adding tennis balls may be a good option. Children who are sensory seekers and need additional sensory input may benefit from adding tennis balls to the fidget bands.

For some children, adding tennis balls may be overstimulating or distracting.

Both strands of the exercise/resistance bands can be thread through the tennis balls so that no “back” band is seen. Make sure to leave a small loop on one end so that the loop can be slid over the leg of the chair. The two loose ends can be tied tightly to the other chair leg.

*Contact your personal occupational therapist to discuss which color of resistance band is a good fit for your student. Your therapist can also recommend whether or not adding tennis balls would be beneficial.

Safety Concerns Regarding Fidget Bands

Regularly check and monitor use.
Make sure the kick band, and tennis balls if using, are securely attached. Check knots are securely fastened regularly.
Clean the kick bands and tennis balls regularly and/or replace if needed.
Set a regular schedule for cleaning

DIY Kickband Installation (The How To!)

Materials

Elastic band such as exercise bands or resistance bands (yellow or red is often recommended)
Scissors
2 tennis balls (optional)
Darning needle (optional)
Box cutter (for tennis balls, optional)

Instructions Without Tennis Balls

First, turn the chair over on to its side so that it is easier to tie on the kick bands (optional).
Next, tie on the resistance or exercise bands to the chair as seen in the picture. Make sure the bands fit snuggly and are tightly tied.
Put the chair upright again. Trim any excess bands as needed.
Adjust the bands higher or lower as needed on the legs of the chair to fit the child’s needs.
Although not shown, shoes are often worn while using the fidget bands expecially in the classroom setting.

Instructions Using Tennis Balls

First cut two slits approximately 1 inch wide on both sides of the tennis ball for the elastic band to pass through. Do this to both tennis balls.
Next, thread the band through the tennis balls using a darning needle as shown. If you are looping both strands of the bands through the balls so that no back band is seen, leave a small loop at one end, before pushing the darning needle and band back through the first ball. Continue with the second ball. You can adjust the tennis ball placement once the elastic band is tied and in place.
Next, flip the chair over on its side (optional). Wrap the exercise or resistance band around the front two legs of the child’s school chair, or place the loop over the one leg if both bands are threaded through the balls.
Tightly tie a knot at the side of one leg of the chair to avoid the knot being hit with the feet. Set the chair upright.
Adjust the tennis balls if you are using them so that the balls are positioned approximately where the feel will be moving the kickbands. Make sure the knot is secure and tight. Begin introducing the sensory kick band in the classroom following the instructions above.
Although not pictured, shoes are often worn when using the kickbands especially in the classroom setting.

Resources

Looking for additional information on sensory processing, red flags, and sensory diets? Check out a fellow OT blogger’s resources on sensory processing from the blog Your Kid’s Table
Proprioception and Why It’s Important resource from Occupational Therapy Helping Children
Bouncy bands for chairs can be purchased through Fun and Function, an online sensory store for children.
Theraband resistance bands from Amazon