Canada Limiting Phthalates ~ Making Kids' Items Safer

January 18th, 20 

Kid Companions Chewelry
phthalates  free

11, Leona Aglukkaq, Canadian Minister of Health, announced new regulations that will restrict the use of six phthalates in toys and child care articles in order to limit exposure to children and infants. "When the Consumer Product Safety Act comes into force in June, the Government will begin a new era of consumer product safety for Canadians," said Minister Aglukkaq.

 "Canada's Phthalates Regulations are now aligned with measures taken in the United States and the European Union and will ensure our children receive the same high level of protection." said Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada. 

Phthalates are chemicals that may hurt reproduction and fertility in children. Phthalates increase flexibility in plastic products, allowing them to bend without breaking, but they've been linked to genital and urinary malformations in boys, as well as prostate cancer. Phthalates limits will be placed in products that kids under four are expected to put in their mouths. The rules will also restrict the sale, importation and advertising of products over those limits.

Rick Smith, head of Environmental Defense, says if Canada lags behind, exporters will try to sell us “crappy poisonous stuff the rest of the world doesn't want anymore. Canada over the last few years has really put the pedal to the metal in terms of getting toxic chemicals out of consumer products, and this is just the latest in many announcements that are protecting consumers.”

Is Kid Companions Chewelry Safe?

Yes! Kid Companions Chewelry is a Food and Drug Administration, FDA approved product to be chewed and bitten by kids. With a lot of research we have made a durable, colorful and safe chewable pendant. Kid Companions are SAFE, bpa, phthalate, pvc, lead and latex free accessories made for children, tweens and teens. http://www.chewelry.ca/ 

Food and Drug Administration, FDA a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

The breakaway is small and lays flat. It was designed specifically for children and conforms to ASTM toy safety standard! Though not meant to be chewed, it is also BPA, lead and phthalate free.

ASTM, the American Society for Testing and Materials, is a group of voluntary members that tests and specifies standards of materials and procedures. It is currently known as ASTM International and is now international in range.

Pierrette and Lorna's goal is to help special kids be themselves and thrive.

Our Kid Companions Chewelry gives parents peace of mind and support their special children. Mother and grand-mother of special needs children, we have dedicated many hours to assure our chewy fidgets are safe and non-toxic. We pride ourselves on our made-in-Canada, sourced in North America commitment and our social and environmental responsibility.

Words of Advice to Parents

Many children with sensory issues like to put things in their mouth. To keep them safe:

• Check if the product complies with safety regulations for child care articles!

• Avoid PVC and plastic items with enamel or paint. Especially those at economy stores.

• Do not rely on retailers or manufacturers to meet voluntary standards, or even to comply with mandatory standards. Request

 Proof. Get informed. Supply chains notoriously have holes

• As with the Kid’s Companion, make sure the items are too large to be swallowed and can easily be sanitized (i.e. dishwasher safe or machine-washable)

• Replace any damaged products before they break, tear or can become small parts.

As always, if you’re introducing something new to your child’s routine, check with your child’s pediatrician, therapist or teacher first.

More words of advice for our readers?

Related Posts:

Kid Companions Chewelry ~ An Attempt At Restoring Sanity by Ali Foley Shenk

Passed Toddlerhood and Still Mouthing ~ Guest Post ~ by Emma Apple

There is a New Kid Companion on Our Block

Product Innovators Launch Unique Sensory Tool for Special Needs Youth

What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box

One of the strategies used to calm or to stimulate the senses, is the use of a personalized Sensory Box. A Sensory Box is just a container where you place items with a medley of sensations. Occupational Therapists often recommend the use of personalized sensory boxes for children who have problems regulating their responses to sensory information. It would be a good idea to have one at home and one at school.

What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box

Items for sensory boxes are as varied as special needs children. The items you will use in your child’s box will be to satisfy his needs and be recommended by his professional advisors.

Just to give you an idea what can be made or bought for sensory boxes, here is a list of some sensory items. Please note that not all are appropriate for school.

* Light emitting/ reflecting objects

*Items that make contrasting sounds

*Textured objects(soft, hard, squishy, smooth, bumpy…)

*Fidgeting toys or aids

*Messy, sticky, gooey items

*Chewable items

 *Items that displace air (straws, hand held fan…)

*Things that move or vibrate

*Scented objects

Safety First for Sensory Box Items

With so many recalls because of safety issues in Toyland, parents and teachers should make sure what is placed in the Sensory Box complies to all safety regulations.

Every item/toy should be non-toxic, bpa, phthalate, pvc, lead and latex free. Look for items with a CPSIA compliance certificate. The objects to be placed in the mouth must be safe with no toxic materials and no breakaway pieces. Also avoid small objects that could be placed into ears, nose or swallowed. Dishwasher safe for hygiene reasons is another prerequisite.

Decide who is responsible to clean the items, remove the worn items and buy and replace new items. Maintaining these boxes takes commitment and organization, but is well worth the effort.

A Personalized Sensory Box for Oral Hyposensivity

For an example, I will write about a child with Sensory Processing Disorder who has oral hyposensitivity. When talking about SPD and mouthing, we refer to the sensory seekers or sensory cravers who are hyposensitive to oral input and who need more sensory stimulation than others to feel satisfied. These are the kids who always have something in their mouths: fingers, hair, clothes, toys, string…

For such a child, more oral stimulation activities and appropriate items to chew must be provided for him to feel calm and organized. Some of the following items could be included in this child’s sensory box:

* Chewnoodles, Tri-Chew, Berry Scented Textures Grabber, Chewable Retractable Bite Buddies from http://www.got-autism.com

* ChewEase, Chewnoodle, ChewEase Pencil Topper, Chewable Zipper Circle Pendant from Pacific Pediatric Supply http://pacificpediatricsupply.com/  

*Kid Companions Chewelry from http://www.chewelry.ca/  and also from the above two sites. 

-Yes, Kid Companions Chewelry passed all the safety tests and they do have a place in any Sensory Box.

-Kid Companions feature a dark colored, hard, embossed dot surrounded by a lighter colored, rubbery heart or circle. Kid Companions Chewelry has lots of textures going on offering a medley of sensations.

- An abstract pattern of dots on the back makes good use of both sides of the pendant.

-The heart shaped Kid Companions also have a worry-stone like indentation in the front.

-The circled Kid Companion is available in three smart colors and the heart shaped one comes in five colors.

-The Kid Companions Chewelry is worn like a necklace or the clipped version can be clipped to clothes, belt, school bag… no more lost, thrown, forgotten chewables.

What went in this child’s personalized sensory box are simple tools but they will help with sensory regulation and oral seeking behaviors. These oral-motor tools are a positive, effective replacement for those chewed in-edibles.

Does your sensitive child use or need a Sensory box?

What objects do you put in your box?

Related posts:

What Is a Personalized Sensory Box

*Picky, Picky Pete ~ A Boy and His Sensory Challenges Written by Michele Griffin and published by Future Horizons. Review here  

*Sensitive Sam ~ Sam’s Sensory Adventure Has a Happy Ending! Written by Marla Roth-Fisch and published by Future Horizons. Review here

*The Goodenoughs Get in Sync ~New Edition~ 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory  Future Horizons Inc. Review here

*What Is a Sensory Diet

*Holidays Ring "Hollow" For Some Special Needs Kids

Passed Toddlerhood and Still Mouthing ~ Guest Post ~ by Emma Apple

If you’re like me and you have a child that needs a lot of oral stimulation, you’ll appreciate the Kid Companions Chewelry. I’ve been looking for something for my daughter to chew on for months! The other kind of chewelry I’ve found is either uncomfortable or unattractive or not safe for kids with teeth.

In hind sight, it started when Madam was a baby. She was what Dr. Sears calls a "High Needs Baby". For the first two years, she would scream if her father or anyone else held her. From the start, she would wake up crying 5 minutes after being put down to sleep and she wanted to breastfeed constantly.

The first indicator that something might be going on with Madam, aside from the awful screaming she'd use to communicate despite her language being advanced, was that she didn't grow out of the mouthing stage.

By the time she was 3, there were several early signs of Autism, with the chewing/sucking/biting on everything being the most alarming. When she chewed through an electrical wire and put a shard of glass in her mouth, we knew it was time to get help.

She was eventually diagnosed with Aspergers and Sensory Regulatory Disorder. We tried several appropriate alternatives for her to chew: straws, teething toys, washcloths... the straws helped the most but none of them made a significant difference and she craved a variety of textures.

Our furniture is a mess from being chewed for so long with pieces of wood, faux leather and foam missing. All her plastic animals have legs, tails, mouths, fins etc. chewed off and the ends of the beds have teeth marks all over them.

One day I stumbled on a giveaway for a kind of Chewelry I'd never seen before. The ones I'd seen prior had been either not appropriate for kids with teeth (which seemed to defeat the purpose) or unattractive and uncomfortable looking to wear.

I entered the giveaway (with as many entries as was allowed) and Madam won her beautiful Pink Heart shaped Kid Companions Chewelry. She was absolutely over the moon when she got it. Madam doesn't like to wear it as a necklace for long but often goes to it and always when reminded. She sometimes has it in her pocket or next to her on the table and if she is feeling very chewy she'll put it on around her neck and use it. I just can't tell you how wonderful and genius I think this is! Exactly what I was looking for!

It is a couple of months later and I cannot recommend this product enough! Madam’s chewing has been significantly reduced and her nails have grown. We've tried so many things to try and stop her biting her nails and nothing ever worked. A few days ago, we were able to cut her nails for the first time since she was a baby and she is proudly wearing her yellow nail polish for only the second time!

She still chews inappropriate things but is often able to redirect herself and often gets her chewelry before an activity where she tends to chew (i.e. coloring) without being prompted.

We love having this tool for her that involves several textures: hard plastic, softer rubber and the cotton lanyard. It is a tool that is readily available and easy to take with us. Her chewy, pink heart is pretty (perhaps most important to a little girl who loves Pink) and has had a positive impact on the entire family. I'm sure they aren't this wonderful for every child since needs vary so greatly but, like I said, I simply cannot recommend them enough!

Links to Emma Apple:

Editor at http://www.muslimasoasis.com/  

Advocate at http://www.bluehijabday.com/

Designer at http://www.yellowpixeldesigns.com/

Pierrette and I wish to thank Emma Apple for this guest post. We appreciate her comments and photos that will help other parents realize that some children must be provided with a safe, efficient alternative to inappropriate mouthing to satisfy their need for oral stimulation.

Related Posts:
*Why Do Kids Bite Their Nails and What To Do About It
*What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box

*Product Innovators Launch Unique Sensory Tool for Special Needs Youth
*Fidgets Toys or Tools
*Chewing and Biting Tip ~ Chewing Is a Form of Moving
*There Is a New Kid Companion On Our Block

Kid Companions Chewelry Listed Among Favorite Pediatric Therapy Products

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Kid Companions Chewelry Listed Among Favorite Pediatric Therapy Products

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dec. 8, 2010 – PIDA IMP Ltd., designers of a unique sensory tool for children who fidget, chew and bite, recently earned formal recognition for its wearable Kid Companions chewable fidgets.

The Kid Companions line was listed in the top three items of the Favorite Oral Motor Product category on the Your Therapy Source website http://yourtherapysource.com/2010awards.html

Based out of New York, Your Therapy Source is a popular online resource for parents and teachers of special needs children and for pediatric therapy professionals.

“This recognition is a wonderful boost for our chewable fidgets, and tremendous encouragement for our team,” said Pierrette d’Entremont, product designer and principal owner of PIDA. "Official accolades from professionals are a great addition to the positive and heartfelt feedback we get everyday from ordinary parents of special needs children."

The honor came after Your Therapy Source conducted a three-month survey on favorite resources for pediatric occupational therapists, pediatric physical therapist, and parents.

“This is a remarkable way to end our first year exporting our chewelry to the United States,” said Lorna d’Entremont, co-owner of PIDA. The Canadian-based company is also increasing sales in Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Kid Companions is a chewable and wearable fidget that is safe, stylish, colorful and effective. It is an ideal alternative to fidgets and chewys that are less discreet.

The chewelry is recommended for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Autism, or ADD/ADHD and others who need oral sensory stimulation or a fidget to focus.

The Kid Companions innovation was designed to North American safety standards. All components are safe, non-toxic and sourced in North America. A CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) 3rd party testing certificate is sent with each order and is available on the company's website.

For information, contact:

Pierrette d'Entremont
+1 902.762.0186
info@chewelry.ca
http://www.chewelry.ca/
http://twitter.com/chewelry
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kid-Companions-Chewelry/282403565744

The Eating Game and Kid Companions Chewelry Team Up for Promotion

From Nov 27 – Dec 10, 2010, order The Eating Game and receive a
FREE Kid Companions Chewelry

It is called a GAME but it is much more! The Eating Game, www.theeatinggame.ca invented by Jean Nicol  provides a very visual, structured, hands on tool that can be a fun way to plan healthy meals every day! Great to team up with the parent resource ~ The Eating Game ~ for a promotion. After a balanced meal, redirect chewing or biting urge to Kid Companions chewable fidgets. Child does not have to eat when he is not hungry just for oral gratification.

What is Kid Companions Chewelry

Kid Companions Chewelry was invented by Pierrette d'Entremont. These chewy fidgets, heart or circle shaped, worn around the neck, in belt hoops or clipped are bought online at www.chewelry.ca  or Special Needs stores. Kid Companions are COOL SENSORY ORAL-MOTOR TOOLS for kids and teens. Safe, stylish and effective, they are a perfect alternative to chewable, fidgeting toys less than discreet to be used at school, at home or during transitions allowing your special child to BLEND IN. More information see previous post here

About The Eating Game

As soon as you open the well packaged The Eating Game box, you know that great care went in preparing this meal planning tool. My grandchildren and I had fun getting to know The Eating Game. Here is what we wish to share with you.

Who is Jean Nicol

For more than 30 years, Jean was immersed in the field of education as an elementary and secondary teacher. In addition to dedicating 20 of those years to Special Education with a keen interest in working with children with Autism, Jean has served as an Autism Consultant and an Early Interventionist for families with children with special needs.

The inventor of The Eating Game, has a Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University. She also holds a degree in Nutrition from ST. F.X. and completed a Special Education Specialist program at the University of Ottawa. So YES she has all the experience and creditials needed to come up with this much needed resource.

Is The Eating Game Durable

Good quality paper has been laminated to withstand use by many little hands who will find pleasure in helping adults in their life plan healthy meals. The laminated pages, handily organized and protected in a ring binder can be easily removed and replaced.

What Age Group Would Use This Meal and Snack Planner

You will find nine laminated Daily Planning guides, one for each of the 9 categories of individuals (ages 2-3, ages 4-8, ages 9-13, females ages 14-18,… males ages 51+) Each guide follows Canada’s Food Guide by having the recommended number of food item servings per day needed for that age group and gender ( when applicable ).

Each Daily Planning guide has columns to plan three meals and three snacks eaten on one day. Everything, pictures and daily planning guides are color coded to correspond with the included Canada’s Food Guide.

Is The Eating Game Easy to Use

Yes, all is color coded and easy to use. For example:

* The vegetable and fruit products are GREEN in Canada’s Food Guide which says a child aged 4-6 should have 5 servings.

 *The Daily Planning guide for that age group has 5 GREEN squares here and there under the columns of meals or snacks.

*A laminated page with 63 clearly recognizable vegetables and fruits on a GREEN background is among the 4 food group pages. These small food picture squares are attached by Velcro

on the food group page and reattaches on the Daily Planning guides the same way.

Who Controls the Choices the User Will MakeThe parent or caregiver is in control of what choices the user (child) will see on the food group charts. Jean tells us to remove before hand, pictures of foods you never buy, foods the user will not eat and foods you do not have on hand. When the choices on the food group pages are presented, the user is in control, limited only by color matching to ensure all food groups are eaten everyday.

Who Benefits from The Eating Game
Jean Nicol thought of everything to make this kit durable, efficient and fun to use. Not only would Special Need families benefit from The Eating Game; but all families who want to encourage their children to eat healthily. Furthermore, it is a great way to introduce new foods, learn the names of new foods and learn to read them as they are typed under each picture.

Planning meals in advance during a stress free time, perhaps the evening before, will ensure happier meal times for all family members.

 Jean has an information sheet with suggestions for getting started and also another page with suggestions for using the kit… told you Jean was very thorough when she created this wonderful resource. Furthermore The Eating Game is available in English, French and Mi’kmaq.

Want more information see previous post:  About The Eating Game and Jean Nicol, the Inventor

What have been your tactics to get a problem eater to eat balance meals?

Fidgets: Toys or Tools

Are fidgets just toys that should be put away at the sound of the bell?  Are fidgets really a Special Needs’ tool to be used all day at home and in class with the blessing of both parents and teachers and on the recommendation of professionals?

Before choosing sides about the appropriate use of fidgets, one must understand the basic premise of their usefulness and what problems they can alleviate.

Many children can rarely sit still. It is not because they do not want to but because they simply cannot. These children have an uncontrollable urge to move or fidget. Their overwhelming need of movement is beyond their control. Punishment is counterproductive. For many, their brains are telling their bodies to get up and move to help them listen and attend BETTER.

According to Sydney Zentall, Ph.D., of Purdue University, an activity that uses a sense other than that required for the primary task — listening to music while reading a social studies textbook — can enhance performance in children with ADHD. Doing two things at once, she found, focuses the brain on the primary task.

Based on the collected stories of hundreds of people, authors Roland Rotz, Ph.D. — a licensed child and adult psychologist — and Sarah D. Wright, M.S., A.C.T. – a professional AD/HD coach – propose sifting the paradigm: Give yourself permission to fidget. “Restlessness is not just an expression of trying to ‘get out of the fidgets’ in order to become calm. It is rather an attempt to self-arouse to become focused.” So there we have it, a fidget is used to de-stress the body and help increase focus and attention.

Fidgets have particular properties that intrigue sensory systems. The premise is that children with special needs with learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome, autism, anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), reduce their fidgeting and increase their focus through the handling of a fidget. Busy the hands to calm the mind.

Most adults can relate to a fidget, as they frequently use their own brand of fidget every day. For example, we often doodle, wind and unwind the telephone cord, or play with our pen. We do this naturally, almost subconsciously, to keep focused, and our brain thinking better. A little boy's answer about his new toy was: "No, a toy is for playing, this is a fidget, it is for thinking."

Fidgeting is moving away from its old stigma and now it is considered an accepted coping mechanism to stay on task. Fidgeting facilitates focus for listening, talking and thinking? It is now accepted that excessive movement does NOT prevent learning but actually facilitates it.

Understanding what is going on in these Special Needs children and proactively choosing an appropriate strategy is the essence of the fidget approach. Occupational therapist and teachers agree that fidgets effectively increase engagement and on-task behavior in learners.

To sum it up, NO, fidgets are not toys. The chewable fidgets like Kid Companions chewelry HAVE a rightful place in school. The use of fidgets should be among the accommodations allowed in schools and noted in IEP's.  Fidgets are a necessary coping tool and a life saver to parents, to kids and  naturally to teachers.

What are the qualities you and your child look for in a fidget?

Related Posts:
Hyperactive, Impulsive, Inattentive Children
Tactics Tackling Homework With Your ADHD Child

Children and Teens With ADHD and Depression
Michael Phelps ~ ADHD Did Not Stop Him
Chewing and Biting Tip- Chewing Is a Form Of Moving

ADHD Body and Brain Work in Tandem

"The Body Affects the Brain as

Much as the Brain Affects the Body"

It is known that half the kids who have attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADD/ADHD are easily distracted, get angry quickly, experience mood swings and cannot focus and concentrate long enough to finish their work at school nor at home.

Inattention in ADD/ADHD Students will result in the following behaviors:

*Has difficulty listening to lectures, instructions, presentations

*Misplaces tools (pencil, eraser, scribbler, books, lunch box)

*Seems disorganized and always rushing, moving

*Has trouble with tasks that require planning ahead

*Forgets things, neglects to write notes, lists, schedules
*Is easily distracted by classmates, outside noises, other family members

Why Fidgeting Works

This urge for constant motion in Hyperactive children is their way of coping. It is believed that these children’s brains are under-aroused and they use motion to stimulate their brain to focus and listen. If these Special Needs children can manage to subconsciously fidget or chew, say with Kid Companions chewelry, it allows their mind to focus on the main tasks. This is exactly like many people do when they doodle while speaking on the phone or when they listen to music while doing another task.

What Accomodations Should be Made in School

In a school environment, all accommodations given to the student with ADD/ADHD must not be disruptive to the rest of the class. Giving these children quieter options in class and organizing movement breaks for this child during long sitting periods will help him accomplish much more. Making him feel it is OK to quietly stand, do wall pushes or chair pushes will be very beneficial. Standing in the back is another option or sitting on a huge ball, swivel or rocking chairs has proven successful with some hyperactive students.

The adults in the life of a child with attention disorders must help him learn strategies to self regulate his energy body so that he can listen, learn and blend in with his peers.

What is the most effective accommodation that has been made for your child with ADD/ADHD?

There is a New Kid Companion on Our Block

“Mothers know best” when it comes to their Special Needs children." This mantra has guided many decisions in families and hopefully in our school system. So naturally Pierrette d’Entremont, designer of Kid Companions, took seriously the pleas of distraught moms who told her no cool, sensory chewable fidgets were available for their older children, especially for boys. Kid Companions went to work and may we introduce you to “A new Kid on our Block"

Our new, Blue, fidget chewy, adds another choice to our circled, sensory oral-motor tool Kid Companions line. You now have three attractive color choices: black, white and our new,

Kid in Blue. The circled shaped rubbery, chewable fidgets are smooth and pleasing with a hard embossed “dot”.
Tweens, Teens and Cool little boys seem to favor our circle shapes. Stylish and very discreet, these circle shapes can blend in but be easily accessible as a chewing or fidgeting tool when you need it.

Still want to wear it like a fashionable necklace?

Our 18’’ or 20’’colorful lanyards are now 100% organic cotton! They are colorfast and pre-washed with plant-based ingredients. MUCH more durable than our original rayon/cotton ones and still washable!  

Our lanyards can be personalize with style, color and contact information. We can heat press name and information in three choices of fonts: print, typed or swishy. Example-John Smith 514- 2005 Autism. Moreover, the lanyards can be sold separately, can be used for any pendant or ID badge and can also be personalized. More about lanyards here

Do you have a lanyard chewer?

Our new undyed cotton is a good choice. These undyed lanyards 100% cotton and non-allergenic. Personalized printing looks GREAT on them too!

The comfortable lanyards have a custom breakaway clasp that will release and can be re-attached with ease. This means no more lost, dropped or thrown mouthing and fidgeting aids. The breakaway is small and lays flat. It was designed specifically for children and conforms to ASTM toy safety standard! It is also BPA, lead and phthalate free.

Another unique feature that renders Kid Companions attractive to tween and teens are the new clips. Clipping the fidget anywhere you want it to be…clothing, pocket, belt, school bag. Discreetly accessible at all times.

If circles are not your thing, you can always opt for our heart shaped pendants with an added oval dip similar in shape and function as a worry stone. We now have a NEW  black heart for TWEEN and TEEN girls to blend in!

All Kid Companions are safe, bpa, phthalate, pvc, lead and latex free. Our materials are economical as possible without compromising safety or social  responsibility.

All our products are durable, washable, and fashionable. Furthermore, we already have a CPSIA compliance certificate that covers our complete line.

Made in Canada, sourced in USA or Canada, Kid Companions allow special children to relax, to focus and to learn. Tweens, teens, their parents and their teachers will surely welcome the new Kid and all our Kid Companions, chewelry.

Tell us about your experience with chewies or fidgets as a tool for your Special Needs child.