Bags for Fun! (and Therapy)

Who doesn't love a bean bag?

They're colorful, fluffy, moldable, flexible, comfortable, and fun to sit it! You can sink into it and let it envelope you. You can toss it around. You can smash into it. You can even lay under it.

You can relax by yourself to read a book, or pile on family or friends and watch a movie together.

However you use it, a bean bag means fun!

But did you know that a bean bag is also a great tool in physical and occupational therapy? I never thought of using a bean bag for therapeutic reasons until my son's physical therapist used it to help Kieran develop his core muscle strength, balance, and gross motor skills in walking and climbing.

When you sit on a bean bag, the filling inside shifts, making it an unstable surface. Sitting on a bean bag requires your core muscles to engage and stabilize the trunk, keeping you from going floppy like a rag doll and falling off the bag. Kieran's Muscular Dystrophy affects his core muscles and core strength. As an infant, he could not sit up on his own until he was 9 months old. He had to learn how to sit up through physical therapy and strengthening these muscles, and one of the tools the therapist used was a bean bag.

Climbing on a bean bag helps develop balance, and strengthen the large muscles

in the arms, core, and legs for gross motor locomotion.

The shifting, uneven structure also helps with balance. You need core muscles to balance your body on any surface, whether sitting or standing. A bean bag is an ideal tool to use because you can both sit and stand on it. Try standing on a bean bag and lift one foot at a time, and feel your core muscles kick into gear to stabilize you so you don't topple over!

Climbing on a bean bag helps develop balance, and strengthen the large muscles in the arms, core, and legs for gross motor locomotion. Again, the instability of the bean bag quickly engages these muscles and challenges kids to balance and stabilize their bodies as they maneuver over the bag. Using a bean bag makes this a really fun activity for kids and something that they will look forward to. Because... who doesn't love a bean bag?!

Since my son was a toddler, I wanted a small bean bag that he could safely interact with and sit on. I found the perfect size in this 22 inch bag by Factory Direct Partners (FDP).

This really is the perfect size for a toddler, and for his or her therapy needs. The smaller size is easy for Kieran to climb on, sit on, pick up and move around the room, and play with.

The outer material is made of soft faux leather polyurethane, filled with polystyrene beads. The beads are not contained in a separate sack, so the case has a double zipper with cover flap to make it impossible for little hands to unzip it. Pro tip: use a paperclip for the zipper handle. Extra beads are sold separately.

FDP SoftScape has sizes for everyone in the family! 22"/ 26"/ 35" and a 36 inch tear-drop shape. These bags have a soft, faux leather cover with foam bead filling (replacements sold separately) and have lots of fun colors and combinations to choose from.

We've had our bean bag for three years and it's held up well. It was quite full and fluffy when it arrived, so I removed some of the filling, but over time the filling has compressed, so I added back some beads. Available at Amazon here.

The SoftScape bag utilizes the double safety zipper and seamless stitching for comfort. They are Greenguard Gold certified and comply with CAL 117 flammability regulations. Available at Amazon and Wayfair.

Taking fun to the next level, Big Joe makes a toddler-size bag in fun animal shapes! Shown here is the Sarah the Triceratops form ― so irresistible! This bag is 24"L x 22"W x 18"H, so it's great for little kiddos.

The plush case has a double safety zipper and is filled with Big Joe's "Megahh Beans." It also comes with the Lil Buddy plush toy as a bonus! Available at Walmart.

The Big Joe SmartMax Classic bean bag is also popular with older kids in the larger, round 27.5 inch size, and a tear-drop shape. It features its stain- and water-resistant SmartMax fabric, filled with “Megahh Beans.” It has a handle for easy transportation and comes in a variety of solid colors.

Another reason to love Big Joe is support of the environment and philanthropy: the products are made in the USA in a "Zero Landfill certified facility," and a portion of sales is donated to charities.

Big Joe SmartMax Classic is available at Amazon, Walmart, and Wayfair . Replacement Megahh Beans can be purchased in 75 liter and 100 liter bags on Amazon here and Walmart here.

If you love fun colors and patterns, like I do, the Posh Bean Bag has you covered! It comes in three larger, round sizes that can be use for fun or therapy for older kids: 27in / 38in / 48in.

Another thing I love about the Posh bag is that the filling comes encased in its own cover, which makes cleaning super easy! The outer shell is a cotton-blend canvas with a zipper so you can remove the filling pouch and machine-wash the cover.

Animals, robots, birds, stripes, chevrons, and solids ― these bean bags will brighten any room! Even some sports patterns for your athletic kiddos.

Posh bag refills can be purchased here.

Some purchasers report caution with the large handle strap as a **choking hazard** so be sure to cut it off before use if you have small children or pets.

Bean bags are great for all kids (of all ages!) and are an easy and fun way to decorate a kid's room or family room. AND... they can be especially useful and helpful to kiddos with developmental delays. Climbing, sitting, and standing on bean bags support and promote gross motor development in a fun and colorful way.

** This post is not intended to provide medical or therapeutic information. I am only sharing what I have learned from my son’s therapies for his developmental delays. Please consult with your child’s pediatrician or therapist to learn what is best for your own child’s developmental and medical needs. **

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