Skip to main content

what do you think?

I'm curious what you think...



about schools using chairs with seatbelts in the preschool classrooms?


Comments

Wendi Taylor said…
I think I need more information. Do they use them for short periods of time & specific activities - such as snack time, etc. when they really don't want all the kids jumping up and running around every two seconds? Or do they make the kids sit in the chairs for long periods of time instead of letting them play, explore, and learn? Do they use the chairs in a way that facilitates an educational environment, or as a way to let lazy teachers look like they have control of their classroom (at the risk of making young kids hate school)? I could see how these could be used for good. I could also see how they could be used for bad.
Anonymous said…
Wendi makes a good point.

Having 'been there' many times, many many times, I do not recall seatbelts used for bad. Really ever. Temporary containment measures allow for group activities and instruction that might otherwise not be possible even with a high adult/child ratio.

I gotta say, I rather like the design of the chair. Consider suggesting little pillows, for comfort. Barbara
Sinead said…
It is illegal to use a seat with a belt, harness or tray in school in the state of Wisconsin without a doctors prescription. I like that approach. I think they use to chairs instead of staffing appropriately. Unfortunately, I don't live in Wisconsin.
Mrs. M said…
I need more info too. When? Why? With what other therapy interventions/behavioral interventions? For how long?
My first reaction....was OMG! But I get it. Look at the kiddos with really low muscle tone who need these chairs.
Look at the sensory and autistic kiddos who need to be "hotdogged" in a carpet or weighted blanket. I get all this and it doesn't freak me out (even though there was a death of an autistic child in can last year due to a rug/hot dog technique inappropriately used....not the norm, I realize)
Freaks me out slightly though. I just get visions of all these little pre-schoolers tied down, trying to get out, tipped over in their chairs....that's my craziness getting away from me because we KNOW that's not what it's about.
Soooo.....my burning question; what is the school's policy/plan with these chairs?
Found your blog from Barbara at Therextras. I have witnessed seatbelts used for group instruction as well - never to send an absolute message of you can not get up, more of an external cue of time to sit. I have never witnessed them used inappropriately. On a different note, I have seen time out rooms used inappropriately.

If you would like more information on the issue of restraints and seclusion, the federal government has released a state by state report on the rules. You can view the over two hundred page document at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/seclusion/summary-by-state.pdf.
Anonymous said…
My son uses a rocking chair with a seat belt that I added at home and we borrowed a Chairres chair from school with a seat belt last summer. He goes stiff and has some tone issues in his trunk, so there for he slides out of regular chair without a seat belt. It is a safety thing for us as well as giving him a chance to sit in a chair built for his size so that he can do "normal activities".
Danielle said…
Memphis' mommy ~ where did you find the rocking chair? The more I think about it...the more I think we already use belted chairs as tools to help make life easier. We just call them "high chairs". :)

And I'm wondering if I used a high chair or something like the rocking chair...if Trevy might actually watch a whole Signing Times DVD rather than watching the credits and running!

I suppose the heart of my issue with the school using a belted chair is ~ trust. I don't trust that all of the staff would be using it for the right reasons. Also...it has been used with Trevor during circle time and for Time Out. I do not want it used for Time Out. He has a one on one aide who can and should be enforcing time out with him. But if she needs to use it during group...so that she can focus on helping him catch the learning rather than spending her energy making him stay...that's different.

Anyway...I was curious how others felt. It's been interesting to hear the dialogue!

...danielle

...danielle
Anonymous said…
Rocking chair - good idea! Does his preschool have an open door policy? If you can drop in anytime, then you might trust them more to be doing as you have expressed/requested.

Barbara
Danielle said…
Barbara...I'm VERY intrigued by the belted rocking chair! Very intrigued!

Good point about pop ins.

...danielle
Monica (c's mommy) said…
We actually own one for C, and they use them at school for circle times, and times they need him to focus on a task, and at lunch. I have absolutely NO problem with them. I figure either you use the belted chair or there is no point in him being at school b/c you will spend the whole day chasing him down. And yes, we have to sign a release for them to use it b/c it is considered a form of restraint.

Popular posts from this blog

No, I don’t know him personally

  I’ve had several emails today asking if I know Mike W. of Marissa’s Bunny personally.    Trevy’s blog was linked on her site.  Although it’s not now.     I’ve posted here and there at his request.  Because…well…we’re a community.  Us IS families.  And Marissa is wicked cute.  Her daddy has a way with words.  Also who wouldn’t want the world to know about an iPad give-away?    But aside from that…I know about as much as you do.    We’ve never met in person.    Our only communication has been cyber.    I’m a ginormous sap and as such would love to believe that all is right.  That the sweet, beautiful families who were promised iPads will be getting them tonight.  Tomorrow at the latest.  That no one has been lied to.  That the personal thank you for your generosity email I sent him on behalf of other IS families I’ve grown to love and was thrilled to learn w...

I sure hope...

they grow back curly! Saw the "unknown" flashing on the face of my cell phone and knew who it was. Who it had to be. Dr. Fellow. My eyes met Grams' and I nodded. Grams has a pool, see. For super hot days like today. We're also having a septic installed. Which meant no water or facilities at my place. But those weren't really the reasons I was there. Close to mom. The purple ringing thing in my hand was. Only I wasn't prepared for it to be ringing SO darn soon. Shortly after lunch instead of dinner! I swallowed. Took a deep breath. And clicked connect. Dr. Fellow has a very nice phone tone. Clear. Hint of compassion. If only a stitch of humor were added...it'd be heavenly. But there was no humor. Just business. He's very direct. I'm learning that about him. Which explains his short hello. Followed by immediately pushing into the news. Being that it was a unanimous consensus. The entire surgical committee feels Trevor is a good candidate. And then p...

it ain't sexy livin' on an island...

Especially when you have to cross bridges to get ANYWHERE. Very LARGE bridges. The crests of which I inevitably get stuck at. Speaking of...why is it that at the tippity tops of our bridges...the railings always open up? To reveal an eagle's eye view of the white capped depths below? I HATE that. And sure enough...in route to Dr. Pedi yesterday...they must have seen me coming cause traffic ground to a halt at the top of the Mt. Hope Bridge. Where I felt less than Hope-ish. My palms gushing my nerves onto the steering wheel for a good 15 (felt like forever) minutes. Not just things medical bring out my cowardly lion. Heights do too! Anyway... Grabbed an iced coffee and chocolate cream filled to settle my nerves on the way. And we arrived on time...in one piece. Of course. Dr. Sick-Visit-Pedi breezed in chart in hand. Glanced down. Then at Trevy. Then said... "He has a history of Infantile Spasms?" Surprise and speculation in her voice. We get that a lot. It...