So, I was sent the Z-Vibe and in all honesty, I work mainly with high incidence students and my experience with children with severe oral sensory motor delays is limited, so I was skeptical how this device could assist students on my caseload. She had me at hello:) when she commented that she loved the blog acronym SPARKLLE SPeaking About Remarkable Kids Learning Language Everyday.did I mention that 2spark is quite the creatively wordy one?! Then, to find out Rebecca's mother was a SLP lover of all things "speechy" with a determination to help young ones with oral sensory motor delays, not to mention a husband who just so happened to be a mechanical engineer. For starters, I was beyond flattered when Rebecca contacted me to review one of Ark Therapeutic's products. Pencil toppers: These can be really helpful for students who chew on their pencils and can be found at the same companies listed above.Thank you, thank you Ark Therapeutic Services, Inc.Search the same companies listed above for options. Items that can be held: There are some you can hold, like the p’s and q’s.Some of the little girls I have worked with have really liked the bright beaded necklaces. Many male students I work with like the necklaces that look like Legos or trains. You can search for ‘chewelry’ or ‘chewies’. Items that can be worn:There are many options for chewies that can be worn, such as necklaces or bracelets.Check out some of these companies for options: ARK therapeutic, Fun and function.Here is a brief list of some options to explore: There are different levels out there for light chewers and more significant chewers. You may hear these referred to as ‘chewies’. Here are some ways you can help the child who chews on everything: There is a lot you can do with what you have and within the child’s routine with a little creativity! You don’t necessarily always have to schedule a sensory break away from the child’s routine, or buy a bunch of special equipment. When it comes to most sensory challenges, I like to think of ways to embed opportunities for children to get the input they need throughout the day within natural routines as well as exploring options for replacement of behavior. However, if a child is chewing because he is seeking deep pressure input, he may need a different set of strategies. If a child is chewing because he is bored, keeping him actively engaged in activities with his hands may eliminate the chewing behavior. Getting to the ‘why’ will help you determine next steps. A child may also chew to get deep pressure input through his jaw. In my personal experience, I tend to see children chew on their fingers/clothes when they are stressed/anxious, trying to focus, or bored. They actively seek out that input by chewing on whatever they can. Why is this child chewing? When does it happen? Are there any patterns? Children who chew tend to underrespond to oral sensory input – meaning they need more input to self regulate. Therefore, it is so important to get to the ‘why’. Simply asking them to stop will not work. Here’s the thing – kids who chew really NEED to chew. As kids get older though, it is more concerning to see them putting items in their mouths. When a young child is upset, we frequently give them oral motor input like a pacifier or a bottle. It is developmentally appropriate and expected to see a young baby or toddler putting items in his mouth – this is one of the main ways babies begin to explore the world.
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