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  • Oral Motor Exercises Update 562020

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    Houssam AbdelAziz
    96 views2 pages
    This document provides oral motor exercises to strengthen the tongue, lips, cheeks and jaw. It lists specific exercises like licking popsicles, blowing raspberries, drinking from a straw, making silly faces, blowing bubbles, chewing vibrating toys, using a mesh bag to chew foods, and chewing dried foods. The exercises can help if a child has difficulty in one or more oral motor areas, and progress should be made at the child's pace without forcing any activities.

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    Speech therapy

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    OralMotorExercisesUpdate562020

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    This document provides oral motor exercises to strengthen the tongue, lips, cheeks and jaw. It lists specific exercises like licking popsicles, blowing raspberries, drinking from a straw, making silly faces, blowing bubbles, chewing vibrating toys, using a mesh bag to chew foods, and chewing dried foods. The exercises can help if a child has difficulty in one or more oral motor areas, and progress should be made at the child's pace without forcing any activities.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    96 views2 pages

    Oral Motor Exercises Update 562020

    Uploaded by

    Houssam AbdelAziz
    This document provides oral motor exercises to strengthen the tongue, lips, cheeks and jaw. It lists specific exercises like licking popsicles, blowing raspberries, drinking from a straw, making silly faces, blowing bubbles, chewing vibrating toys, using a mesh bag to chew foods, and chewing dried foods. The exercises can help if a child has difficulty in one or more oral motor areas, and progress should be made at the child's pace without forcing any activities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

     

     
    Oral Motor Exercises 
     
     
     
    Children may have difficulty or need strengthening in all of these areas or they may need to focus on just 
    one particular muscle. If you see your child has no problem completing certain groups of these exercises, 
    there's probably not a weakness there! 

    Tongue Exercises: 

    Use a vibrating toothbrush to brush teeth (stimulates tongue movement) 

    ● There are smaller ones for babies and toddlers. Note that vibration can be an intense sensory 
    input, if your child refuses, take baby steps to help them get used to the sensation. Never force. 

    Licking popsicles or lollipops outside of the mouth 

    Placing applesauce, yogurt, or pudding on the corners of the mouth and having kids lick off 

    Click or cluck tongue 

    Sing "La, la, la" 

    Try to touch tongue to tip of nose 

    Blow raspberries 

    Count teeth with tongue 

    Lip and Cheek Exercises: 

    Blowing air kisses 

    Drinking through a straw (Learn ​how to teach babies and toddlers to drink from a straw​ from as early as 

    9 months old). 

    ● Experiment with thicker textures like milkshakes and even applesauce to make it more 
    challenging. 

    Hold a small carrot stick or other food in between the teeth without using teeth to hold it steady 

    Alisha Grogan MOT, OTR/L 2020 YourKidsTable.com


    Make silly faces 

    ● Fish lips (ages 3 and up) 


    ● Make "O" shape with lips 
    ● Spread lips far apart 
    ● Kiss lips 
    ● Blow fish face, with cheeks puffed out 

    Blow bubbles (20 months plus) 

    Humming 

    ● Pick a nursery rhyme that your child likes and try humming it together 

    Play a harmonica 

    Use party blowers 

    Smack lips together 

    Blow whistles (easy ones can be used from about 18 months and older) 

    ● There are a ton of whistles out there, many are very affordable.  
    ● Other whistles are more challenging. Sets are also available if you want a variety. 

    Jaw Exercises: 

    Bite on a vibrating toy 

    ● Baby teethers can work if they fit in your child's mouth 


    ● Handheld massagers can even be held to the jaw for a few seconds at a time to stimulate the 
    muscles. 
    ● Animal jigglers are designed to go inside your child's mouth and can even be used as utensils. Kids 
    are often motivated to bite on the chewy texture. 
    ● For the most intensive vibration, therapists may use a z-vibe. These are very powerful and should 
    be used carefully, making sure your child is comfortable with the sensation. ​Vibration is very 
    stimulating to the muscles in short bursts of 3-5 seconds, but starts to relax the muscles after 
    that point​. Watch for your child's reactions. 

    Use a mesh bag (found in the baby department) to chew on foods directly on the molars 

    ● We want kids to chew directly on their molars, or where they will be, on the back of their gums. 
    Hold (or have them hold) the mesh bag and chew while keeping it in place. I love to put frozen 
    grapes or strawberries in the bag, but use a food you think your child will enjoy! 

    Chew on molars with chewy foods 

    ● Dried mango strips 


    ● Beef jerky 

    Alisha Grogan MOT, OTR/L 2020 YourKidsTable.com

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