Innovative Classroom: Benefits of Flexible Furniture

While kids learn from virtually everything around them, classrooms, the places dedicated entirely to their development, are one of the most important spaces in children’s lives. A lot of important things happen in them. They learn how to study, they develop many of the skills that they will need and use as they grow, and set the foundation of their personality, they become more curious, more independent, more social, and so on. This is why it is so important that classrooms are comfortable, functional, engaging and safe for every child.

With so much research into the process of learning, cognitive development, and other important topics concerning children, classrooms are constantly evolving and changing for the better, to suit children’s needs and encourage their progress. We have come a long way since the days when we believed that the only way for a child to learn and pay attention is to sit still in school. Today, there is a huge tendency around the world to use games for learning, so we have active toys and games – to encourage activity, interactive toys and games – to encourage communication, educational toys and games – to encourage the desire for knowledge, and so on. 

The success of these approaches has prompted the invention of a variety of innovative tools, that bring classrooms into the 21^st century. One such tool is flexible furniture, which offers incredible benefits not only for the children but also for the teacher and the overall progress as well. When you look for school furniture, there are several factors to consider, including comfort, safety, good posture, etc. And flexible furniture offers this and so much more.

Better for Physical Health and Cognitive Development 

Children don’t move so much because they don’t want to learn, because they are having a tantrum or because of overall bad behaviour, but rather because they simply need to do it. And therein lies the most important thing that differentiates this type of school furniture from other types – flexibility. 

Kindergarten flexible furniture allows young children to rock, bounce, lean, stand, etc. This way, it promotes children’s physical and mental health. Sitting on a flexible chair or stool, for example, will help the child to strengthen their core muscles, and will contribute to increasing their blood flow, and the oxygen levels in their brain. Moreover, because the movements will feel more natural, and will not only be possible but also encouraged, it will help them stay focused and alert. As a result, their performance and their progress will also improve.

But flexible classroom furniture isn’t only good for the youngest. Sitting in the same position for longer periods of time is obviously not good for your posture. This is why inventions like adjustable desks and ergonomic furniture are becoming more and more popular for people working in offices. However, because it allows them to move, flexible classroom furniture is also great for younger or older kids, teenagers, and really, virtually anyone.

Using flexible furniture, including balance balls, ergonomic flexible stools, rockers, pedal desks, etc., is good for your spine, legs, hips, neck, back, etc., regardless of your age. This type of furniture can help teach pupils and students will allow them to change their sitting position as they please, but also it will help them learn how to sit properly.

Better for Communication and Collaboration 

Classrooms are one of the first and most important places where kids learn how to communicate with peers and with teachers. Because this furniture, including chairs, desks, storage furniture, etc. can be moved easily, it is a great way to encourage kids to pair up, work in groups, etc. Working in groups, on the other hand, will teach kids how to listen, express themselves, share their opinions, collaborate, solve problems together, resolve conflicts, self-control, etc.

All of this is great for their social skills, but it also prepares them for their future. In recent years, the work environment has changed a lot, and nowadays they are open, flexible and collaborative. Learning how to work in that way from a young age, may become a very useful skill in their future.  

Better for the Teacher 

Aside from the kids and the classes themselves, flexible furniture pieces are also great tools for teachers and educators. Flexible learning spaces are very adaptable, which makes planning the class much easier. In these kinds of classrooms, teachers can be more creative and productive, and they can also be much more time-efficient.

Flexible furniture can be moved around the classroom quickly and easily according to the needs of the lesson or the activities they are planning for the class. This can give you new ideas, and make the lesson easier to learn, more fun for the kids. Because it is so easy to form pairs or groups, and then to transition to the previous set-up, or a new one, flexible furniture pieces will shorten the time needed for this, as well as the noise and the other distractions.

There have been many important and drastic changes in classrooms in recent years, and furniture options are just a small part. One of the biggest changes in education is, of course, technology. Even though we discourage kids from using their phones and tablets all the time, technology offers many benefits for schools.