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Dear Melissa,
My 4 1/2 year old grandson is a “chewer”. He has no developmental delays, but he seems to chew on EVERYTHING! He chews on his shirt collar, he chews on sticks, he chews on straws, he chews on toys…I tried to give him a chew necklace, which he seems to think is cool, but he still chews on everything. When I pick him up from daycare, his teacher says that she notices him inappropriately chewing in the classroom too. However, she also claims that this happens more during inside “work” time and less during outside play time. Shouldn’t he have grown out of this by now?
Thumb sucking, chewing on toys, chewing clothes, biting fingernails…it seems like most kiddos go through a chewing phase. Babies tend to use their mouths to explore their environment. Older children (and adults) tend to chew for calming oral input. Trying to completely eliminate oral sensory-seeking activity is challenging because the behavior provides calming sensory input. Sometimes when children are repeatedly told “no,” the child switches to alternative sensory calming activities. Unfortunately, the child’s alternative can be even more socially unacceptable than the initial behavior.
It can be effective to find a more acceptable replacement for oral self-stimming behaviors. The following are more appropriate ways to provide oral or other calming input:
- Chew items: These could include various chew necklaces (amazon.com), rubber bracelets, paracord/titanium necklaces (Academy Sports), bubble gum, taffy, or licorice.
- Strong flavors: Add spice to your child’s life with strong flavored snacks,candy, or gum. Think strong mint, cinnamon, spice, & sour. Examples include salsa, Altoids, Hot Tamales, and fresh lemon to water.
- Temperature: Warm tends to be soothing..ice cold tends to pack more of a punch! Consider using frozen teethers, ice cubes, snow cones, or popsicles.
- Texture: Play around with various textures that may be similar to the behavior you are trying to correct. This may be in the form of manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes, and vibrating back massagers placed on the cheeks. You can also use crunchy snacks such as chips and raw fruits/vegetables.
- Sucking/blowing: These also provide lots of calming oral input. Again, it was one of the first survival skills that we learned in infancy. Try using various crazy straws, sport bottles, & juice boxes. One of my ultimate favorites is drinking a pudding cup through a standard straw that is cut into thirds. Chocolate AND calming sucking…win win! You can also use various whistles, harmonicas, kazoos, and blowing noise makers if your ears can handle it!
- Proprioceptive input: This is generally provided in the form of deep pressure to calm a child. Think about the squishy/snuggly input you provide when you swaddle a baby, or how your joints get squeezed together when you run or jump. This is proprioceptive input. Some good ideas for proprioceptive input include weighted vests or blankets, big bear hugs, wrapping the child up in a blanket like a burrito, lying under bean bags, running, jumping, climbing, and helping with heavy work.
Unfortunately, none of the above is magic fairy dust! It takes trial and error to find out what will work and what will not. If your child is able, share these ideas with him and see what appeals to him the most. For a more complete reference list, you can refer to my Oral Input Guide which contains over 100 ideas for appropriate oral input.
Do you have ideas for providing appropriate oral input that have worked for your child? I would love to hear them! Or, if you have a question you would like me to address in my Weekly Blog, send it to share@ChildrensTherapyTEAM.com
Resources:
The Ultimate List of Giftsfor Sensory Seekers