The strands don't stay put if one moves around normally, but even when "tangled" they're lovely. Here's how they looked after I bent down to the floor just now:
So this isn't the necklace to wear when teaching little ones, but rather for adult endeavors.
I'm not too fond of necklaces bouncing around when I bend over, either. Have you thought of a wee thin bit of wire to use as a space-retainer, making upright loops? That's what I've been contemplating, for an invisible spacer to keep the look informal.
it'd look like this, only continuous o_______o_______o