Skip to Content

Looking for the best info on potty training your toddler? Click here.

'Body sox' used for restraint against Florida 4-year-olds

Categories: Development, Childcare, Education, Kid decor & style, Toys & games, Gadgets & tech

School officials in Florida are using a highly unusual -- and now controversial -- method to calm students that are upset. It's called a "body sock," and a teacher in Pinellas County has reportedly been using them to restrain unruly students. According to the device's website, "body sox" are designed to help kids "explore three-dimensional space," but in practice they are being used for therapy, and in some cases, punishment. The device is made of a cloth-like material and zips closed, completely enveloping the child inside.


One 4-year-old boy was placed in the sack, while crying, after he had been given verbal warnings to behave. His father thinks the teacher was wrong to place him in the device as a form of punishment. "I don't like it at all," said Patrick Holt, the boy's father. "I don't think it should be used on anybody." His son was the only one who the teacher reported using the device that day in that class.

The school board has opened an investigation, and it did publicly confirm that body sox are approved for use in classrooms but shouldn't be considered restraining devices. "It has been used in some of our exceptional student educational classrooms as a very calming therapeutic and well received type of strategy to calm students down," school board Director of Communications Andrea Zahn said.

Recent Posts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)

ParentDish Polls

    Hollywood's Hottest Dad
    51% of you voted Hugh Jackman the Hottest Dad in Hollywood by a landslide. Wolverine edged out Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp -- and we can see why.

    Jewel Samad/Getty Images

    Best Stepdad
    How cool would it be to have Ashton Kutcher as your stepdad? Pretty cool, according to 52% of you. After all, you wouldn't have to teach him how to send a text message or use Twitter! Kutcher is pictured here in 2007 with stepdaughters Rumer and Tallulah Willis.

    Evan Agostini/Getty Images

    Who cares about IQ?
    Not ParentDish readers! 80% of you said that this 24-year-old UK mom should be allowed to keep her baby--even after social workers said she was "too stupid" to take care of her.

    Jenny Goodall, Daily Mail / ZUMA Press

    Enough With the Gosselins!
    Will you buy Kate Gosselin's cookbook? 64% of you say no -- and you're also tired of hearing about her.

    David Livingston, Getty Images

    Best Babysitters
    31% of you said that you would leave your kids with Ellen and Portia, while only 9% would trust Oprah to babysit. Interesting, since none of the celebs are parents.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images

    Fav Celeb Mom
    Jennifer Garner is your favorite celebrity mom, beating out Angelina Jolie and First Lady Michelle Obama with 37% of the vote.

    Kris Connor, Getty Images

    Bad Mommy
    Dina Lohan and Courtney Love tied for worst celebrity mom, each with 32% of your votes. Only 3% of you said that Kate Moss was a bad mom, though, which says a lot -- mostly what a mess Dina Lohan is.

    Michael Buckner, Getty Images

    Unimpressed
    Only 8% of you think Bristol Palin a better parent than baby daddy Levi. [Get the full story]

    Getty

    Octo Overload?
    60% of you are worried about her kids. Maybe because she reportedly once stripped under the name "Angelina?" [Get the full story]

    Getty

    Tough to Swallow
    45% of you said this Burger King ad was "totally inappropriate." What would the King say? [Get the full story]

    YouTube

Features

Recent Comments