Greater security and peace of mind—the use of weighted vests in preschool can make a big difference in how children feel and, ultimately, for the entire group. That’s according to Jenny Svensson, a teacher at Skogsgläntan Preschool in Förslöv, outside Båstad.
What is a weight vest?
A weighted vest is a tool you can wear if you have trouble concentrating, feel anxious or worried, have trouble sitting still, or have a lot of thoughts and worries swirling around in your head. The weighted vest wraps around the body much like a hug, where the pressure helps the muscles relax, allowing you to experience a greater sense of calm in your body; you feel more grounded and find it easier to wind down.
How did you introduce the fiber-weighted vest to the children?
“We first introduced the vest to small groups so that everyone had a chance to try it on and see how it felt. We explained that it was for everyone and that it was called the ‘hug vest’ because it feels like a hug. And everyone needs a hug sometimes, after all,” says Jenny.
You tried the vests for a few weeks at first—what kind of effect did you notice?
“We noticed a change in the children’s behavior when they were wearing the vests. We felt that they became calmer and more secure, especially in situations that could be stressful, such as mealtimes.” Their ability to concentrate also improved when they were doing things that require a bit of focus, such as language lessons,” she says.
So you bought the vests you tested—how do you use them today?
“The children who need the vest go and get one all by themselves.”
“Here, we keep the vests hanging out in the open so they’re always accessible. We teachers have noticed that the children who need a vest go and get one all by themselves, without us having to say anything. That suggests the children appreciate the vests,” she says, continuing.
– It has become routine, and the vests are a natural part of our work environment, just like any other piece of equipment.
Do you have any tips for other preschools that want to try out weighted vests?
“If you have a large group, it might be a good idea to introduce the vest in smaller groups and let everyone try it out—that worked well for us. We called it the ‘hug vest,’ and the kids thought that sounded exciting. You can come up with other names to make it interesting for the kids,” Jenny concludes.
Learn more and order weighted vests for preschools and schools here!
