Dining room, or office? Dining room, or art space? Dining room, or play room? Does this sound familiar? Our dining room has served many, many purposes since the arrival of our children. However, my girls are getting to the age where they need more than a temporary work space. It is time to create a work space in their bedrooms. With the arrival of a desk comes the desk chair decision. What will support their backs, promote good posture, be stylish and be comfortable? After doing some research, and with the help of the folks at Staples, we selected the best chair for our tween daughter's new desk. Bring on the homework.
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Why Choose a Ball Chair for Tweens?
What is a ball chair?
You are probably familiar with the large, blue, rubber, air filled balls that people use in the gym. Exercise balance balls are often used in yoga, pilates and by physio therapists. A ball chair takes the large ball, shrinks it down and adds legs. The inflated ball sits inside a footed base, providing a stable seat that still has flexibility. Some ball chairs are designed with the exercise ball exposed, while others have a colourful cloth covering for the ball. There are different size chairs for different size people. Adult ball chairs use a larger ball and taller base than the "junior" kid size chairs. As with any desk chair, it is important to find the right size ball chair. 
Why We Chose a Ball Chair?
The ball chair is making its way into the mainstream for a number of reasons. Studies have shown the old belief that sitting still is the best way to keep a child focused, might not be totally accurate. In fact, being able to move on the ball chair can help some children better focus and concentrate in a learning environment. The first place I ever saw a ball chair was in my daughter's classroom. Teachers are choosing to use these chairs to help kids who need more movement be successful in class.
Aside from the fact that subtle movement can help children concentrate more, there is the posture factor. If you have ever sat on an exercise ball, then you know how your core muscles automatically become engaged. In order to sit on a ball chair, you must sit up straight. We are always looking for ways to remind our daughter about the importance of good posture. The ball chair is a built-in posture perfecter. 
Finally, we chose the ball chair because my daughter was so excited when she saw this ball chair on Amazon. What we were really looking for in a great desk chair was one that my daughter truly liked. Haven't we all bought things in the past, that we didn't like...and we never, ever used them? I want my daughter to come home from school and be excited about sitting down and doing her homework...is that even possible? Every time she sits on her new chair a smile comes across her chair. Who knows what she will accomplish while sitting in her new chair. I'm sure there will be many art projects, craft projects and stories written.
What Will You Do in Your Chair?
Now, I'm opening the question to you. If you had a new desk chair, one that you really loved, what would you do in your chair? I'm pretty sure that if I had a new desk chair I could finally sit down, comfortably and write the next great novel. Feel free to share what you would do in your chair in the comments below.
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