Oral motor and sensory input

The muscles that we use for respiration are also the muscles used for posture and stability. Developing the muscles around the mouth, head, neck and trunk provide good stability to develop other skills and refine movements. Oral motor activities, including biting, sucking, chewing and blowing, will also assist with promoting calmness and is one of the most organising and effective ways for your child to self-regulate and pay attention.

Here are some activities to help develop these skills!

• Whistles and other similar toys. There are many different types available. Look for ones that have moving parts, different sized mouth pieces, require different forces of breath.

• Introduce oral toys into play. Examples include, rubber toys, teething rings (different temperatures and textures). You can also buy teething rings that vibrate when your child bites on them.

• Encourage drinking with a straw. Use a variety of different length and width. Curly straws are fun and motivating! Also experiment with different textured drinks such as really thick smoothies with a thin straw.
• Use a straw to blow bubbles in water or a drink. Again try a variety of length and widths.
• Bubble blowing.
• Experiment with different foods – look at chewy, crunchy, lumpy, cold, hot, sour, sweet foods. These all activate and use different muscles.
• Sucking on flavored ice blocks.
• Try some bubble gum!
• Play musical instruments such as a recorder, harmonica, flute, kazoo or trumpet.
• Use a straw to blow a table tennis ball around a maze or table. Create an ‘obstacle course’ to blow the ball through!
• Blow up some balloons – try different sizes and shapes of balloons.
• Play games which involve copying mouth movements such as blowing raspberries, puffing cheeks out, and silly speech sounds.

Your therapist may incorporate any of the above activities within therapy sessions. Hopefully next time you are in a therapy session with your child and therapist, you will have a better idea of some of the reasoning behind the introduction of oral motor use within the session. Experiment with these activities at home and take note of the effects implementation has their self-regulation and attention.

Some red flags to keep an eye out for as indicators your child is processing oral sensory input in a disorganised manor include:

• Biting, chewing and mouthing of non-food items including fingers, hands, clothing, toys and pencils
• Making lots of noises and sounds including humming, vocalisations, clicking or grinding teeth
• Holding food in mouth or cheek during meal times

If you have any questions about your child oral motor and sensory development please feel free to contact us at any time to chat with an occupational therapist.

Written by Alannah Santomartino, Occupational Therapist.