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Sensory Oral Play Ideas

corinna042

Oral sensory seeking involves a strong desire to engage the mouth in activities like chewing, sucking, or biting. Here are some ideas to fulfill oral sensory needs in safe and satisfying ways:


Chewing Tools and Toys

   - Chewable Jewellery: Provide chewable necklaces, bracelets, or keychains designed for safe chewing.

   - Chew Tubes: Use chew tubes of various textures and firmness for chewing.

   - Silicone Teethers: Offer silicone teething toys that are durable and safe for oral exploration.


Chewy Foods

   - Dried Fruits: Snack on dried fruits like apricots, apples, or raisins, which provide a chewy texture.

   - Jerky: Enjoy beef jerky, turkey jerky, or similar dried meat products that require extended chewing.


Crunchy Foods

   - Raw Vegetables: Munch on crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery, or bell peppers.

   - Pretzels and Crackers: Eat pretzels, crackers, or rice cakes for a satisfying crunch.

   - Nuts and Seeds: Snack on almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds (if age-appropriate).


Sucking Activities

   - Straw Drinks: Drink thick liquids like smoothies or milkshakes through a straw, which requires strong suction.

   - Suckable Pouches: Use squeeze pouches filled with yogurt.

   - Lollipops: Suck on lollipops or hard candy for extended oral stimulation.


Blowing Activities

   - Bubbles: Blow bubbles with a bubble wand or through a straw into soapy water.

   - Pinwheels: Blow on pinwheels to make them spin.

   - Whistles and Kazoos: Play with whistles, kazoos, or other wind instruments.


Vibrating Oral Tools

   - Vibrating Toothbrushes: Use a vibrating toothbrush during oral care routines.

   - Oral Vibration Toys: Explore vibrating teething toys or oral massagers.

   - Electric Flossers: Use electric flossers that provide a gentle vibration while cleaning teeth.


Cold and Hot Sensations

   - Frozen Treats: Eat icepoles, frozen fruit, or ice chips for cold oral input.

   - Cold Water Bottles: Sip cold water from a bottle with a spout or straw.

   - Warm Drinks: Drink warm beverages like tea or soup broth to provide a different sensory experience.


Resistive Chewing

   - Licorice or Twizzlers: Chew on licorice sticks or similar candy that offers resistance.

   - Bagels or Breadsticks: Bite into chewy bagels or breadsticks that require extra jaw work.

   - Cheese Sticks: Chew on string cheese or other firm cheeses.


Oral Motor Exercises

   - Tongue Twisters: Practice tongue twisters to engage the mouth and tongue muscles.

   - Lip and Cheek Exercises: Puff out cheeks, blow raspberries, or make exaggerated lip movements.

   - Straw Exercises: Practice sucking and blowing through straws of different diameters.


Oral Hygiene Activities

   - Brushing Teeth: Engage in thorough tooth brushing with flavored toothpaste.

   - Mouth Rinsing: Use flavored mouthwash (age-appropriate) or water to rinse the mouth.

   - Flossing: Practice flossing with flavored or textured floss.


Taste Exploration

   - Sour Candies: Taste sour candies like sour gummies or lemon drops for a strong flavor experience.

   - Spicy Foods: Try spicy snacks like chili-flavoured chips or wasabi peas.

   - Flavour Drops: Add flavour drops to water or snacks for a burst of taste.


Oral Play with Food

   - Play with Food Shapes: Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes with fruits, vegetables, or sandwiches.

   - Layered Snacks: Build layered snacks like mini sandwiches or stacked fruits to explore different textures in one bite.

   - Edible Jewellery: Create edible jewellery using cereal, pretzels, or gummy rings.


Heavy Work for the Jaw

   - Caramel or Toffee: Chew on caramel or toffee for intense jaw work.

   - Gumdrops or Jelly Beans: Munch on gumdrops or jelly beans that require a lot of chewing.

   - Rice Crispy Treats: Chew on sticky, resistive treats like rice crispy squares.


Scented and Flavoured Items

   - Flavoured Lip Balm: Use flavoured lip balms that provide both scent and taste.

   - Scented Chew Toys: Offer scented chew toys or chewables for a multi-sensory experience.


These activities and tools can help fulfill the oral sensory needs of individuals who seek out oral stimulation, providing a range of options that are both safe and satisfying.

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