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Criss-Cross Applesauce
Give your hands a clap
Criss-Cross Applesauce
Put them in your lap.
We hear it all the time.
“Criss-cross applesauce.”
You can walk by any TK or Kindergarten classroom and you’re bound to hear that rhyme being directed at the little, wiggly kids as they attempt to sit down in an orderly fashion before an activity begins.
It makes sense. It’s sticky. It’s easy to remember. It gives them direction in a very clear, concise manner and explains what they’re supposed to do with all their moving body parts that they’re still figuring out how to control.
And, even better, it gives the teacher a quick phrase that they can whip out to remind the students of the expectations. It’s a win-win, right?
The Problem with “Criss-Cross Applesauce”
There are a number of research studies that show us that “criss-cross and hands folded” is not actually the best way to gauge for a child’s attention. Instead, when teachers have implemented more of a flexible seating policy in their classroom, kids were engaged, attentive, and ended up retaining more information. When children are more comfortable and have a choice in how they sit, stand, or lay, they are able to be more involved in the learning process.
Yes, there are a number of research articles that back this claim.
But it also doesn’t need to be that complicated.
Related Article: Sensory Processing Disorder in Children
Just think about it.
You, as an adult, would have a very difficult time sitting upright and cross-legged during your conference call at work, right?
You, as an adult, swivel in your chair when you’re thinking about how to respond to an e-mail. Right?
And you, as an adult, get up to take a lap around the hallway when your brain needs a break from the task on hand. Am I right?
So, yes, it’s great that there is research that illustrates that flexible seating in classrooms achieves higher results. But, you can also just step back and recognize that the children we work with are just little human beings.
They should be allowed to have bad days. They should be allowed to express how they feel. And they should be allowed to sit in a way that’s comfortable to them.
We must stop holding our children to a higher standard than we, as adults, are able to attain ourselves. Share on XFlexible Seating Elementary Classrooms
Sitting at a desk for a long period of time or sitting “criss-cross applesauce” on the rug can be extremely challenging for students. Sometimes, their full cognitive attention is spent trying to sit upright that they are not focused on the lesson being taught.
Here are a few alternative seating arrangements you can consider for the classroom or their home space.
At Their Desks
If you walk around some of the most successful companies, you may see nap pods, beanbags, treadmill desks, standing desks, recliners, or customized ergonomic chairs to ensure that their employees are comfortable and able to perform at the best of their ability. Why should our students be any different? Think outside the standard chair-and-desk. What do your children need in order to maximize their engagement and, as a result, their overall production?
Wobble Chairs
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Wobbling on a Kore chair can increase movement for students during what would normally be considered a sedentary activity. This increases blood to the brain and thereby quiets the requirement for fidgety kids to move. Students are able to get their “wiggles” out and stay focused and attentive.
Bouncy Bands
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Some teachers may have restrictions from administrators or district folks and are required to keep all desks and chairs in the classroom. You can still be creative and tie a bouncy band to the legs of student desks. Students are able to move their feet in a quiet, productive way while they work at their desk. I’ve also gotten a little creative and have used Therabands for my classroom since they are more affordable and I like to buy them in bulk!
Yoga Ball with Stabilizing Legs
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A lot of people in the workplace use yoga balls during their sedentary, 9-5 office job. They also benefit from increased focus by keeping the body active and the mind engaged. Similar to the wobble chair, the constant movement from using the balance ball increases blood flow to the brain, which leads to better concentration. I used to have yoga balls in my middle school classroom, but these ones are even cooler because they’re not going to roll all over the darn place.
On the Carpet
Whether it be small group lessons or whole-group read-alouds, students spend a good portion of the day on the carpet. Being confined to a tiny space on the rug can lead to a lot of behavioral challenges. Imagine if you, an adult, were forced to sit in a small square without creeping on your neighbor’s space. I can NOT physically do that for longer than 5 minutes. So we shouldn’t expect our children to be able to sustain that level of rigidity and structure. Here are a few tools and resources that may help kids engage for longer while sitting on the carpet.
Wiggle Discs
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Sitting on a wiggle disc can provide students with sensory input and can help calm children that have a hard time sitting still. There’s a smooth side and a “pokey,” unstable side which requires students to use more muscles to stay balanced. Again, it’s a non-distracting way to get some of those wiggles out while still staying focused on the lesson.
Weighted Lap Pad
Click to buy on Amazon!
A weighted lap pad or a blanket can be used on the carpet or while sitting at a desk. It’s meant to be worn over the child’s body (in their lap) as a way to help “weigh them down.” This can be a great tool for a “flighty child” that has difficulty sitting and attending for long periods of time.
Hand Fidgets
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Hand fidgets have gotten a bad rap lately since the fidget spinner has taken over classrooms and schools nation-wide. But, in reality, hand fidgets are a great way to keep your students’ hands occupied with something while listening to a story read aloud or while doing seatwork. When the creative part of our brain (or body) is occupied, the logical part of our brain can concentrate.
And, though this shouldn’t need to be said, I’m going to say it anyway.
Involve the student.
Don’t expect your student to magically be engaged and hanging off every word you say just because you handed them a tool or a wobble chair. Conversations are the most important part of this. Not only do you actually find out what will benefit your children, but you are actually helping them develop the skills to independently identify what their body may need. You’re asking them to tune into their body and seek out the tool or support it needs to be most successful.
Let them know that it’s OK to try something out and decide later on that it’s not the right tool for them. Let them know that every child learns in a different way. But, most importantly, let them know that you recognize that they aren’t little robots and you care about them and their success. When you tell your students they are responsible enough to make these decisions on their own, they step up. They own that responsibility. They take the initiative and make decisions. And it bleeds into other aspects of the learning process.
Questions of the Day:
- What are some other suggestions you have for flexible seating in the classroom or at home?
This is so interesting. I saw a spot on the news recently about a classroom in Toronto providing exercise equipment for some students in the classroom (stationary bikes, etc). They were talking about the same thing – that students actually understand their lessons more and retain more information when they aren’t just sitting. This was for older students. Great article!
This is so true, and so hard to remember. When I taught first grade I totally used criss-cross applesauce… but I also tried to not have kids on the carpet for longer than 5-10 minutes at a time. If kids were really having issues I also allowed some to pull up a chair. While they worked at their desks I also allowed them to stand if they wanted. Since I taught first grade I did center work for literacy and math, which allowed kids to move around, which I hoped helped.
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This is really interesting and informative. I am not a teacher, but have two small children, so it’s nice to see this kind of insight.
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It’s funny how I’ve never thought about learning while seated in a different position from what we are all used too….thinking about it now…this initiative will definitely enhance learning and more comfort while working…I actually have a little pillow for my chair at work..
great post! I teach 3rd grade and have incorporated some of the tools you’re talking about. The kids love them. Happy kids = better learning.
I love this – when we were kids, my husband couldn’t sit that way because he had a weird hip thing and teachers used to get mad at him. I think it’s great to look at other options for sitting and I absolutely agree that kids need a break to get up and move around a bit too.
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I am so happy to see teachers such as you becomming aware of this! Wonderful! Keep it up, we need more like you!
Great ideas. I know Jake has a hard enough time trying to see and listen at the same time. I never thought his seating arrangement could cause issue as well.
I love this! I teach middle school, but the kids are JUST as fidgety! I’m going to look into the bouncy bands!
Brilliant ideas! I’m saving this for when my son gets older! ❤️
I love this! When I was in school, I always needed something to fidget with. Sitting still wasn’t an issue for me but I know others had an issue because we were expected to stay still for HOURS. I hope more teachers implement this in their classrooms.
I’ve seen a few of these different options used at my daughter’s school and it works. I think every teacher, student, and classroom is different. So finding something that works for each i all that matters.
Now this is an interesting post, I found it very informative and an eye opener too if I may!
This is all really, really interesting! My 4.5 year old has such a difficult time sitting still. This is definitely a concern of ours as he heads to kindergarten next year. Such great information and resources here. Saving this post to my faves so I can come back to it! Thanks for sharing!
I thought from the title of this post that it was going to be about physical flexibility – like kids that just can’t bend their legs like that. It made me think of my husband who’s not at all flexible and could barely cross cross applesauce as a child.
I have never thought about this. Of course, my kiddos are just in preschool, but will be in Kindergarten next year. Thanks for sharing,
I wish we could co-teach! Every article you post is so spot on, I love your insight! I tend to implement this a bit differently, as my 5th graders are about to head off to middle school where flexible seating is not an option. So, I want to prepare them to attend for longer periods without the reliance on wobble seats or bands. That said, I start my year out with more options and we gradually wean. Also, walking, standing, and hand fidgets are ALWAYS an option in my room. I actually have a deal with the gym teacher for my really fidgety ones to go run a lap or two before tests!
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I am so glad that you brought attention to this! In my experience, I try to run a very structured and organized classroom. There are certain things that are non-negotiables so that the classroom can run smoothly. Seating is not one of them. I always allow students to stand behind their desks instead of sit, if they need to. Or, stay at their desks instead of sit on the carpet. As long as they were actively listening, participating, and not distracting anyone else, I was fine with their choices. Even in my virtual classroom, I recommend yoga balls/exercise balls to sit on during class. Going from buzzing around a classroom to staring at a screen, I can’t sit that long either! What you said about thinking about our preferences as adults, is so true! I often teach while holding my lap top and walking around or doing squats! Awesome post, as always!
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I am always baffled at how adults can treat children … we expect them to do things we would never do – like sitting this way. Thanks for the great perspective.
What an interesting read! I know first hand, I am able to focus so much better when I’m fidgeting with something, whether it’s bouncing my legs, fiddling a pencil but just sitting g still with my hands crossed is torture for me!
Great post! Some of the books I am reading talk about students moving in the classroom correlates with them being more engaged with a lesson. I found this was true, even when I taught. I was always looking for opportunities to get the students moving. 🙂
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I’m so glad that you shared this here. I’ll be completely honest–I don’t have any kids in my family and rarely have any insight into what goes on in classrooms (and even how little minds work!) but it makes perfect sense when you say that they, too, experience bad days and don’t all fit the same cookie mold. Of course. I’ve heard the fidget spinners can be distracting in classrooms, but I’m so glad to see that there are so many options for kids who need to keep busy in order to quiet their minds enough to pay attention. I get that.
You always share such insightful posts, clearly based on your extensive experience in the field, so thank you! XOXO
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Really good information. I am glad that studies are showing that small children and even us adults are not wired to sit and be that focused for such long periods.
Informative post. I have never thought about this. Of course, my younger brother is just in preschool but will be in Kindergarten next year. Thanks for sharing,