Wiggly Year 3 student on carpet -- how much does carpet time matter?

[thinkingtoomuchagain]

In Year 2, and now Year 3, my DD's teacher has said she is very wiggly on the carpet and takes up too much space, but is absolutely fine at a chair at her table. No other behavioral issues, average or above average in all her subjects.

I've scheduled an OT assessment for her as I want to take this seriously and am tired of thinking of ways to help her (she refuses a wobble chair and fidget toys as she does not want to be different -- anyway the problem doesn't seem to be fidgeting so much as not staying still.) At the very least an OT might give me some ideas or guidance for the teacher.

But at the same time, I think carpet time sounds kind of . . . silly? I couldn't sit on a carpet for 2 minutes, but her teacher seems to feel very passionately about it. Is it really a problem when she is fine in a chair? What am I missing here?

I couldn't sit on a carpet for 2 minutes.

Why?! I could sit on a carpet for a lot longer than 2 minutes.Anyway - it is pretty normal for children to be expected to sit on the floor sometimes. Why do you think it's silly?

Yes, maybe I'm wrong! But adults would never go to a lecture or meeting and sit on the floor to listen and pay attention unless there was no other option -- literally, this never happens. Same for older kids; there's no carpet time in secondary school. Similarly, I never choose to sit on the floor if there's a chair (is that weird or somehow bad?)

I guess I really don't understand why it's important for children to be able to sit still on the floor. I'm open to being convinced!

I don't think all year 3 classes sit on carpet, many will have phased it out by year 3, won't they?

Why doesn't the teacher just give your DD a chair?

Ask school to give her a small mat to sit on. Often works as wiggly children sometimes just need something to focus on.

My Y3s sit on the carpet probably 4 times a day, not including assembly time. They need to get out of their chairs and move to a different place just to change things up and stay interested. It really was awful during covid when they had to stay in their rows of tables all day. Often it's just easier to get everyone listening and engaged when they are all close together. It is also hard to make sure everyone can see whatever you're showing them when they're all over the classroom. I expect all children to make an effort to sit nicely on the carpet, with reasonable adjustments for those with SEND (diagnosed or not). Generations of 7 year olds have managed to sit cross legged before now, it really isn't too much to ask.

Young children can't pay attention to the board/flip chart when sitting at tables meters away. They need to be in close proximity. It also helps with lesson structure moving from carpet (listening) to tables (doing) and gives a bit of a natural movement break.

Yes, a chair or mat would be ideal but she refuses as doesn't want to be different. Honestly, it's not THAT bad as she will stop when told. I am taking teacher concerns seriously hence private OT just wondering why it matters when she is obviously able to focus in a chair.

When you say she's ok on a chair, what does that mean? If the lesson input was at tables and not the carpet, would she still be ok? Or is it a case of she's ok when focussed on a task, but wriggling when listening?

It's great you're taking it so seriously. Much more seriously than many parents would. It matters because that's how the teacher runs her classroom. She's decided that it's the best way to help children learn. As with so many things in school, there need to be boundaries in place as otherwise with 30 children you'd genuinely get nothing done. Not crossing your legs, fiddling and taking up more space than necessary all disrupt the learning of other children. Fidgety children are sometimes listening despite the fiddling, but often not.

Either she stops wriggling or she sits on a chair or mat. An OT will likely suggest a wobble cushion or chair anyway!

I think seeing an ot for a bit if fidgeting on the carpet is OTT. Just give her a mat to sit on. Tell her to sit still. Job done.

Yeah, probably OT Is probably OTT but I'm not sure what else to do. And by fine on the chair, I mean, sits still, does her work, no problem. Again, she's not disrupting class or anything and stops when told, but the teacher has mentioned it at an early parent-teacher meeting (it's not like I was pulled aside about it).

I guess what I am really asking is what is gained educationally by sitting on the carpet versus the chair? I can totally see why kids need to learn to read well, spell, get in line to go to lunch, write neatly -- these are life skills! Even sitting in a chair and listening, yup, this is 90 percent of secondary school and many people's jobs for that matter.

But sitting on the carpet to listen to a teacher is literally not anything anyone will do after the age of 8 or 9, so why such big emphasis on it? What is the greater skill they are learning? I just don't see it.

Has she got enough room? For her legs?

sounds obvious but maybe kid is uncomfortable - can teacher try giving her a bit more space or sitting her at the edge of the carpet

She is probably just getting a bit big for it to feel comfortable. It might be that this is the last year It is even done.

I've checked with my DD - she's in year 4 and they haven't sat on the carpet regularly since reception. I'm sure some of that was covid related, but year 3 wasn't.

I never have carpet time in y3 and for some classes phase it out earlyish in y2 if they struggle with it.

You've been given some reasons and not responded to any of them.

I just don't think the teacher means that she is literally struggling with sitting on a carpet.

I think the teacher is using "sitting on the carpet" to mean generally listening to the teacher input.

If your child is struggling listening to teacher input, that could be a concern as it will limit her learning.

I definitely don't think you need to engage an OT without clarifying the concern.

Pretty clear she does mean the sitting as the child is fine in the chair. Yr 3 is quite old for carpet time, my legs were so long when a child it was very uncomfortable trying to sit cross legged.

secondary school children spend a lot of time sitting on the floor.

Sometimes you need to bring everyone together -several times a day in fact- you are not going to rearrange the furniture in the room every time, are you

I am an adult and sit on the floor regularly.

I think you are way OTT referring this issue to OT!! and I think you are being very dismissive, calling such a large part of education "silly"

A common reasonable adjustment for children who sway when sitting on the carpet (and therefore take up too much space) is just to sit them at the edge....has that been tried?

No they don't.

I'm an adult, oddly enough, and sitting on the floor leaves me in a lot of pain.

For some things it’s more effective to have everyone in one space, directly in front of you when teaching. It’s less formal, gives them a change in place and a chance to move, provide less things to fiddle with. There’s no particular educational benefit as such, it’s just a useful thing to be able to do sometimes. They always have to sit on the floor for assembly etc as most schools don’t have seating options for the whole school.
If she won’t sit on a chair because she doesn’t want to look different then I’m not sure what the answer is? Are you expecting the teacher to stop all the children sitting on the carpet to fit in with your DD?

I have no issue with some kids needing to be on a chair if it helps them, it’s an easy adjustment, but they have to want to sit on it!

who don't what?

Are you saying secondary children don't sit on the floor - yes they do in most schools . Our sports hall and drama studio don't even have chairs in, all lessons in there are done sat on the floor. Assemblies are done on the floor every day!

And yes, it will cause you pain to sit on the floor if you are not used to it - It is a healthy habit which improves balance and flexibility.