CoRe Kids Therapy

Play Therapist and Child Counsellor

Oral Sensory Calming Strategies

Have you ever wondered why you bite your nails? Why might you reach for a crunchy snack when you’re trying to focus? Or why some children suck on their clothing or chew through pencil tops? 

The action of chewing, sucking, and breathing is facilitated by the trigeminal nerve. This nerve has projections that are connected to a part of the nervous system responsible for bodily functions associated with restoring energy to the body, such as our ‘rest and digest’ system. It causes our heart rate to slow, lowers blood pressure and promotes digestion. Have you ever felt the need for a little rest after chewing your way through a particularly large meal? 

The trigeminal nerve also has branches to an area of the brain that is responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle, alertness, and attention. Chewing on crunchy foods is a great way to improve alertness and concentration. Likewise, drinking from a straw or sports bottle will also help regulate our levels of alertness.

There are further connections from the reticular formation to an area of the brain which regulates our emotions and behaviour (limbic system). Chewing when feeling worried may act upon the limbic system to help promote calm and stress-relief. 

Chewing and sucking can form an important part of a child’s self-regulation of anxiety and arousal/attention levels. Here are some ideas to help children feel more regulated when they are seeking more oral sensory input in their daily life:

  • If safe and appropriate, include healthy crunchy/chewy snacks into your child’s lunch box to support their regulation throughout the day.
  • Encourage your child to drink water from a sports water bottle, or from a cup with a straw.
  • If safe and appropriate, offer your child chewing gum or oral sensory toys/games – such as whistles, bubble blowing, or chewellery (chewable jewellery)
  • Blow out the candles breathing activity: Imagine your fingers are 5 birthday candles. Take in a deep breath through the nose and then exhale through the mouth to blow out the 5 candles. 
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