Mouthing Constantly ~ Is This Normal For Preschool Kids



Hypo- or hyper- sensitivities
must be treated by professionals 

 Chewing and mouthing behaviors are a normal part of a healthy developing child. After 18 months of age, most children will not be mouthing objects or toys preferring to use their hands to explore or play with them. If a child is a frequent or habitual bitter of everything at his disposal past toddler-hood, parents should find out if this is normal. You should be looking for preferred activities to allow for oral stimulation past toddler years to replace sucking, licking, chewing and biting inappropriate objects that bring into question safety and hygiene.

 Judith Hudson, developmental psychologist wrote: "Preschoolers don't have clear boundaries between edible and inedible things; putting something in his mouth is a way for your child to see if it tastes good. Visually, there's not much difference between a doughnut and a stacking ring, yet adults and older children know that one is food and the other isn't. To discourage your child from putting inedible objects in his mouth, emphasize the distinction between things that go in the mouth (namely food) and things that don't. When he mouths his train, say, "That's a toy. Toys don't go in our mouths," or, "We put food in our mouths, not toys."


If your child continues to mouth everything around him, your child’s behavior might be a red flag that warrants an early intervention referral. The ealier the intervention, the better the results!


Why Would a Child Mouth


Parents can find support at
 SPD Blogger Network

 • A child may have had sensitivity or medical issues in the mouth and missed his formative, infant mouthing stage, he/she might just be going through it late.

*A child may bite out of frustration, anxiety, stress or distress when he is placed in difficult situations or is surrounded by excessive noise and activity.


*A child may have sensory issues over/under-sensitivity to oral stimulation and his actions provide the necessary stimulation to the sensory system. Children with oral sensitivities, whether hypo- or hyper- sensitive, will need specific treatment and oral stimulation activities by a knowledgeable therapist.

What to do When a Child is Chewing or Biting Excessively

For all cases of excessive chewing or biting parents must be proactive.  Parents must  intercede before the mouthing problems get out of control. The time to act is now.

To prepare for a consult with professionals, parents should carefully observe and document when this behavior occurs and try to identify the causes. Does mouthing occur when the child is tired, angry, anxious, overwhelmed, bored…write it as a journal with lots of notes.

To stop the biting requires
 getting to the root of the biting problem.

Many communities have Early Intervention Programs that give a head start to children 3 years and older. Take advantage of all these services offered before your child reaches school age. The goal of these programs is to get your child school-ready and to plan with the school what accommodations your child should receive when he gets there.   


When a family has knowledge and support it increases their chance of success. In turn, early treatment can improve their lives  and those of their kids at home, at school and at play.




Once a child turns 3 years old,
 biting may indicate other
behavioral problems.

Disorders Having  Biting and Chewing as Symptoms

(note that many disorders can co-exist)

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including Aspergers  (AS)

• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Related Posts:
*Canada Limiting Phthalates ~ Making Kids' Items Safer

*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 YouthWhat would tip you off that a child is biting or chewing beyond the normal mouthing stage?

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

The Goodenoughs Get in Sync ~New Edition~ 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory Issues

Turn the pages of this 6 chapter book and shadow the Goodenough family for one, harrowing day where the five family members deal with a different form of sensory processing disorder. Their solutions to overcoming the challenges of SPD will help families coping with SPD function in a “good-enough way” and learn how to get in sync also.

Best-selling author of The Out-of-Sync Child and The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, Carol KRANOWITZ, came out with the first edition in 2004. Since March of 2010, we can enjoy her revised edition with a new preface and revised introductory chapter to help people understand SPD even more clearly.

Her first edition, was the winner of an i-Parenting Media Award and was a Finalist for ForeWord Magazine's 2005 Book of the Year for juvenile non-fiction.

This 96 page book is actually two books in one. Younger children read the larger print and find an amusing account of a family that any child with sensory issues can relate to. Read the small print and find a wealth of information that meshes with the story about how sensory processing disorder can affect people in different ways.

Carol KRANOWITZ earned an M.A. in Education and Human Development from George Washington University in Washington, DC. With a 25 year background as a preschool music and movement teacher, she knows how to present these issues so children can easily understand. Being a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 4 probably helped also.

The story flows along as if the characters are just speaking to a friend. This is a quote from the large print. Darwin, with sensory over-responsivity says: “…out-of-syc feels like to me. I don’t like when someone nudges me or touches my hair. I’m choosy about clothes and food. My stomach gets upset when I move fast…”

The small print weaves in with the main story and is still in simple and clear sentences: “At school, Miss Morrison helps me with speech. She is a speech therapist. I have auditory distrim…I mean, auditory discrimination disorder. That means I don’t process sounds very well. I don’t always hear differences in sounds.”

Throughout the book, the author proves she is very knowledgeable about her topic. KRANOWITZ, for almost 20 years, has been writing and speaking about SPD and how this developmental problem interferes with children's ability to function smoothly in daily life. A sensory seeker herself, she is also an internationally renowned speaker and frequently presents for Sensory World.

The 37 pages added at the end of the story have a wealth of practical, immediately useful information for parents of children with SPD. Three appendices have to do with Sensory Diet Activities, how SPD affects different individuals and fun and functional techniques for helping kids at home and school. A list of equipment for the sensory diet and even the catalogue companies that provide the suggested equipment is included. Pages of helpful web sites end the book.

Guidance on the pronunciation of difficult words is given immediately after the word. Definitions of Sensory Processing Disorder terms and new words are in bold type and are found in a 7 page alphabetize glossary and index. This added feature makes this a handy research book that can have a place next to your dictionary on the book shelf.

T.J. Wylie, the illustrator, brings the 5 family members and their naughty dog to life. The use of charts, colors, color coded tabs and cartoon looking characters make this book one that children and parents would often want to read and consult.

This book belongs on book shelves at home, at school, a public library, in health professional offices and surely in every hand of a child with sensory processing disorder.

What resources have you found that have helped your family cope with special needs issues?

The Goodenoughs Get in Sync ~New Edition~ 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory  Future Horizons Inc.  http://www.sensoryworld.com/childrensbooks.html
ISBN: 978-1-932565-88-1
US $14.95

Related posts:
*Meet Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman Authors of Growing an In-Sync Child
*2010 Book of the Year Award by Creative Child Magazine ~ Winner, Runners-Ups and Procedure


*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

*Special People, Special Ways ~ Each page portrays positive images of children with various disabilities Written by Arlene Maguire and published by Future Horizons. About here

What Are Some Symptoms of Juvenile Bipolar Disorder?

When Bipolar Disorder is finally diagnosed in an individual, parents will most often confess that since their child was a toddler, they KNEW something was not just right.  Since toddlerhood, their child had had a very difficult time to settle for the night, had extreme difficulty sleeping through the night, experienced severe separation anxiety and had always had lots of sensory issues.

The visits to their professional support had probably been in vain as all the above complaints could be attributed to many causes. These parents are not alone because it is a fact that Bipolar Disorder is often misdiagnosed or overlooked.

The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation website states that Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) affects close to 1 million children and adolescents in the United States at any given time. Recent studies have found that from the time of initial manifestation of symptoms, it takes an average of ten years before a diagnosis is made. This is due in part because its symptoms overlap those of other disorders, including ADHD, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What is different between adult and juvenile bipolar disorder?

In adults, the mood cycles of mania and depression can last several days or weeks. In children, the cycling pattern is called ultra-ultra rapid. Their moods fluctuate multiple times in a day. These children seem to have problems getting going in the morning and have more active moods in the afternoon and evening.

The following are other Red Flag signs of juvenile bipolar disorder:

*Children appear hyperactive, fidgety, frustrated, inattentive, restless …these symptoms are much like ADHD but add to this the following symptoms.

*Children have decreased need for sleep, will sleep only 4-6 hours and are not tired the next day. Bipolar kids tend to experience a range of sleep disturbances that include night terrors and nightmares - often with images of gore and mutilation and themes of bodily threat and parental abandonment - sleep-walking, teeth-grinding, and bed-wetting.

*Children have grandiose behaviors ~an inflated self-esteem or think they have special powers, like Superman. Children act as if rules were not made for them and take unbelievable, dangerous risks.

*Children will suffer high levels of frustration. The word “NO” will make them throw a temper tantrum that lasts a long time. These tantrums may even be accompanied with aggression. All these negative behaviors may never be shown outside the home. Or for some children, it is the exact opposite where parents see their good sides and the school sees their violent side.

*Children have flight of ideas and jump from topic to topic becoming unusually talkative and talk faster than usual.

*Children may be unreasonably silly, giddy or happy.

* Children have sudden shifts in mood making them bored, withdrawn, wishing they were never born. And yes, children can even be suicidal.

*Children may be bossy to their peers and even to adults. Some children can be insolent but other children are well-liked and want to make friends. Some will have difficulty making transitions and become argumentative.

*Children develop social phobia and want to be alone. They loose interest or pleasure in activities they normally enjoyed. They feel tired, worthless and guilty about unreasonable things.

*Some children even have hallucinations, they see insects or snakes, hear voices, or hear satanic figures. Some have delusions (irrational fears or beliefs).

In another post I will tell you about the Fear-of-Harm phenotype (FOH). This group of children have a more severe form of pediatric bipolar disorder with higher frequency and severity of manic and depressive symptoms, greater rates of hospitalization and greater likelihood of school performance difficulties.

If any of these RED FLAGS make you think your child has bipolar disorder DO NOT WAIT. Seek professional help immediately and do not stop until the right care has been found for your child. The first line of treatment is usually to stabilize the child's mood and to treat sleep disturbances and psychotic symptoms if present.

The following sites are a wealth of information for parents…use them, arm yourself with knowledge to advocate for your child. When my child was struggling through undiagnosed bipolar disorder, none of this was available.

Resources

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)

1-800-950-6264,  http://www.nami.org/

Mental Health America a change of name from (National Mental Health Association (NMHA)

1-703-684-7722, http://www.nmha.org/

Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF)

1-847-256-8525, http://www.bpkids.org/ or http://www.cabf.org/

Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation (JBRF)

http://www.bpchildresearch.org/

Depressive & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

1-800-826-3632, http://www.dbsalliance.org/

Bipolar Children Newsletter

http://www.bpchildren.com/

Parenting Bipolars: A Survival Guide for Parents

http://www.parentingbipolars.com/

How One Can Identify the Symptoms of Special Needs Students

We are pleased to announce that your interview is now published on our blog at www.weeklyinterview.com  We encourage you to share it with your Twitter followers who will be able to read it and sign up as well. If you have a blog you can link your blog to our website so that your readers can read if they miss your tweet.   Caroline Aoun, Online Marketing Director, Weeklyinterview.com


Chewing and mouthing behaviors are a normal part of a healthy developing child. However, if a child is a frequent or habitual bitter of everything at his disposal past toddler-hood, parents should seek professional help. They should have their child evaluated to find out ...more

Sensory Gardens for Kids

First it was the Sensory Box and, literally thinking outside ‘the box’, schools and families are using a sensory garden full of plants and accessories to stimulate the senses. Plants and accessories are selected on the basis they will provide experiences for seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, and tasting.

Mid-April is the perfect time to start a sensory garden for children with sensory issues so they can enjoy and be part of the garden. This project can be as small as a planter or window box to a real, backyard, walkabout garden with places to stroll and sit. The design and layout can provide a stimulating journey through the senses, heightening awareness and bringing positive learning experiences. Or on a small scale, an herb garden is a good way to start as herbs have a wealth of sensory awakening attributes.


Live in a city? See post: Urban Sensory Gardens~ Versatile Balconies. 

When I was a child growing up next door to my grandparents, one of my fondness memories is helping my grandmother with their vegetable garden. We spent hours together, sixty years of age difference apart, caring for the garden. Then while raising our three children, we always had a vegetable garden which must have left fond memories for them also as now our grown children each have their own vegetable gardens in their backyards. From buying the first seeds to eating the produce from your very own garden each step in the process is a teaching and sharing experience to the sensory child and to all children.


What plants and accessories to choose?
An objective in sensory garden design is to encourage users to interact with the plants, often directly, for instance by breaking off leaves to smell or taste. So all plants must be non-toxic, hardy and sturdy enough to withstand handling.


Touch: Chose plants that are durable enough to withstand frequent brushing or handling.

Look for textures in soft flowers, fuzzy leaves, springy moss, rough bark, succulent leaves, prickly seed pods. Enjoy the textures of sage, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, both types of parsley, mint.

Accessories can include rocks and sculptures in a variety of shapes, sizes and textures. Use sculpted handrails for safety and added textures.

Smell: Rosemary, sage, tarragon, fragrant creeping herbs, such as thyme, are planted among pathways, walking or wheeling on them will release their aroma intense smell like rosemary or peppermint.

Roses are a good choice in flowers if you know how to deal with ‘its’ thorny issues’.

Crushing and smelling a plant part works well.

Sight: Use plants in all shades of green foliage with various leaf shapes, and different colors of flowers. Choose colorful plants that change through the season offering a new facet with each one.

Mobiles, bird baths and sculptures can add visual stimuli as well as sunlight and shadows dancing along all surfaces.

Accessories for enhancing visual pleasure include color flood lights, torches, mirrors, and gazing globes.

Taste: Have herbs like mints and chives to provide both scent and taste opportunities. Cherry Tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, edible flowers, fruit trees and the endless vegetables will offer the taste buds an array of choices.

Hearing: Kids will hear the sound of wind rushing through the leaves, grasses rustling and seed pods of some plants rattling.

Have non-plant materials (wind chimes, fountain bubbling).

Birdsongs will fill the garden if birds baths, bird-attracting plants, bird feeders and bird houses are provided and maintained.

Accessories for bringing sounds to the garden include waterfalls, fountains, water harps and wind chimes.

The beauty of a Sensory Garden is that you can have the sensory stimulation benefits and like the saying ‘you can have your cake and eat it too’.

What benefits do you see in a Sensory Garden?

Mar 22 Sensory Tip- Family Life With SPD Overwhelming

Oversensitivity or under sensitivity to many of the senses makes life extremely difficult for all family members dealing with Sensory Processing Disorders.

This one little child can disrupt the activities of the whole household:  meals, dressing up times, bed times, car travels, family visits …

So that your sensitive child receives adequate care as soon as possible, arrange to have him seen by professionals. Start with your family doctor who will make arrangements for you to see others who deal with Sensory issues in children. When strategies to help your child cope with his surroundings are already established, the transition into the school setting will be smoother.

Your SPD child might be schedule to receive treatment from some of the following: Occupational therapist, Listening therapist, Physical therapists, Speech/language therapists and others trained to use a sensory integration approach to help with your child's treatment.

If your child has pronounced sensivities, do not attempt to deal with these overwhelming distressing problems alone. Speak to other parents, read about it, join support groups, get professional help and when he goes to school inform his teachers.

What is the most useful suggestion you have received for a professional to help your sensitive child cope with his environment?

Kid Companion Testimonials -Word of Mouth Worth Its' Weight in Gold

 Lisa Y. Johnson-Collins, 
Director of Education Through Engagement,

• Industry: Education

• Occupation: Educational Consultant/Educator/Interventionist

• Location: Los Angeles : CA : United States

The absence of sensory issues in the educational setting is an ongoing problem. In this area a paradigm shift needs to occur in education as a whole. Therefore, your work is imperatively important. If you don't mind I will put your website on my website as a resource.

Many of the students in the general and special education classroom have oral sensory issues. The students not being able to chew gum at school confound this issue. As you know these sensory needs morph into other areas: eating, biting, eating paper, etc.

Your product has been the best thing I have seen so far. I have a 10th grade student, with very severe issues, in mind I will try it with.

Do you have a comment about our chewable, fidget Kid Companions?