An article at raepica.com https://www.raepica.com/2019/10/crisscross-applesauce-2/ discusses the challenges for children of the common practice of having pre-school-aged children sit cross-legged for group activities.

The article, Crisscross-Applesauce: It’s Time to Move on From This Tradition, challenges adults to try sitting cross-legged on the floor, back straight and hands on lap, and see how long it is before they have to move. The author comments, “For me, the answer is: about 20 seconds max! Unless I’m deeply, deeply engaged in something, I will change positions multiple times or start to fidget.” Many people find it very difficult to stay completely still, even in a comfortable position.

The author argues that sitting this way is a particularly challenging position that can require the majority of a child’s concentration, and is actually a distraction from concentration on the subject being presented. It also means that the child who’s incapable of complying will be likely to be labelled as misbehaving.

The article quotes pediatric occupational therapist Christy Isbell, from an interview for BAM Radio Network: “Who’s to say we have to sit down to learn? Why can’t we stand to learn” Why can’t we lay on the floor on our tummies to learn? Why can’t we sit in the rocking chair to learn”? There are lots of other simple movement strategies. Just changing the position can make a big difference.”

Noting that learning to sit is a process that involves movement, allowing children to develop their proprioceptive and vestibular systems in order to be able to sit, the article makes the following recommendations:

• For circle time you might simply allow children to stand or walk as needed (compare to an adult walking from room to room while on the phone in order to facilitate thinking).

• You might allow children to engage in a quiet activity, like coloring, as you read a story. (compare to an adult doodling while listening to a presentation, or knitting while watching programs on television, to enable relaxed concentration)

• If a child is unable to sit still while you’re reading a story or otherwise attempting to engage, remember not to take it personally. Once you get to know each child as an individual, you’ll be able to determine who might need a stress ball, for example, or to sit on a balance ball.

• If you find yourself distracted by the children’s movement, it’s important to remember that, as adults, we should be better able to make adjustments to our thinking than young children are to behaviors that are beyond their control.