Oral strategies

We receive a lot of proprioceptive feedback (sensation through joints and muscles) through our mouth when we chew, suck and blow. This can be calming and organising for our bodies.

See Using my senses advice sheet.

The following ideas can help children maintain attention and concentration on the task:

• drinking from water bottles or through straws, particularly those which require you to suck against a resistance
• give your child foods or thick fluids to suck through a straw like milkshakes, yoghurts or slush puppies. Curly straws are harder to suck through
• let your child have a number of oral toys to play with, under supervision if necessary. For example, blowing bubbles, blowpens, harmonicas, Kazoo, pinwheels, party blowers, balloons
• provide appropriate objects to chew instead of their clothes or pencils, like chewl’ry, chew pendants and bracelets. Use safety lanyards for them to keep round their necks

Studies show that chewing gum and sucking sweets enhance focus. However, gum is often against school rules so discussion should be had with the school before encouraging your child to do this. Be cautious about sugary sweets.

Play blowing games such as:

• blowing ping pong balls across the floor, table or water, or scrunch up little bits of tissue paper and blow them across the floor or table
• blow football
• blow out candles with one breath
• scrunch up small pieces of tissue paper and shoot across the room using a cardboard tube as the shooter (inside of a kitchen roll)
• Use a straw to blow bubbles in a bowl or cup with bubble solution in.

Make bubble pictures – put a little food colouring into some water in a small bowl. Provide the child with a straw and get them to blow into the water, until the bubbles come up to the top of the container. Then with a blank sheet of paper, touch the bubbles to get a pattern from them on the paper – set aside to dry.

Helping your child feel alert and ready for activities

Some children benefit from sensory input to help them feel more alert and focused before starting an activity. This can be especially helpful if they seem low in energy or find it hard to get going.

You can try offering foods with strong flavours or interesting textures. These might include:

• sherbet, popping candy
• frozen grapes or fruit pieces frozen in ice cubes
• lollipops
• chewing gum
• spicy snacks like Bombay mix

Sensory activities can also help. Using a vibrating toy around the mouth or encouraging your child to talk against a balloon can provide stimulating feedback.

An electric toothbrush is another useful tool that can help ‘wake up’ the mouth and body.

These strategies can be used as part of a sensory routine to help your child feel more prepared for learning or physical activity.