Walk like an animal (simple animals to complex animals) and the learner copies movement. Do a race to motivate the learner.

PURPOSE

This activity helps develop a learner’s core strength and muscles. Learners also use their imagination on animals.

• Step 1

  Caregiver thinks of an animal and starts to walk like this animal.

• Step 2

  Learner copies the caregiver’s motions.

• Step 3

  If the learner would like, have a race as these animals.

Add crunchy, harder to eat foods to the learner’s diet for example: carrots, apples.

PURPOSE

This activity helps the learner become either more alert and engaged, or calmer and more focused.

• Step 1

  Try adding harder foods to the learner’s diet (carrots, apples, celery sticks etc.) during meals and snack times.

  *Chewy foods (i.e., pizza crust, chewy candies) may work, too, as they provide more resistance and make the jaw really work.

Keeping a candle at a distance, the learner is encouraged to blow at the candle and try to blow it out.

PURPOSE

This activity helps improve stamina and breath support for speech production and feeding.

• Step 1

  Light a candle at a safe distance from the learner.

• Step 2

  Demonstrate how to blow at the candle and ask them to follow. You may increase distance between learner and candle slightly as they are able to blow at it with better force.

• Step 3

Chew a piece of fresh gum and then give the learner another fresh piece of gum to chew.

PURPOSE

This activity helps develop the motion of the jaws, encourages chewing food and helps with development of speech.

• Step 1

  Buy new, fresh chewing gum. (or substitute for any food item, which is can be chewed)

• Step 2

  Show the learner how you put the gum in your mouth and chew.

• Step 3

Use a soft bristle small toothbrush to brush the lips, both on the outside and inside.

PURPOSE

This activity helps improve sensation on the lips.

• Step 1

  Take a small, soft bristle toothbrush or a cotton earbud, if the toothbrush is unavailable.

• Step 2

  First, without any water, brush the learner’s lips on the outside and inside gently. Then, wet the brush or ear bud and repeat gently.

• Step 3

  Repeat activity for a few seconds with intervals and continue for a minute.

Use an ice cube for topical application on the mouth, lips and cheeks.

PURPOSE

This activity helps increase sensitivity around the mouth, lips and cheeks.

• Step 1

  Freeze some water to make ice cubes. If no freezer is accessible then buy an ice cream bar or small frozen food packets.

• Step 2

  Take the ice cube or frozen item and place it on the hands first and then over the face, mouth, lips, cheeks.

Use a straw to drink water, juice or any other liquid from a glass.

*Disclaimer: Caution with food allergies and the learner’s oral motor skills as these foods may be a choking hazard in some cases. This activity should be done under constant supervision.

PURPOSE

This activity uses the sucking motion while drinking from a straw to provide strong sensory input which may be calming for the learner. It provides good foundation for eating and speech skills

• Step 1

Imitate a variety or oral-motor exercises in front of a mirror.

PURPOSE

This activity helps the learner refine and strengthen tongue movements and in turn coordinate with the jaw, and lips for speech production and managing developmentally appropriate textures for feeding.

• Step 1

  Have the learner say “lalalalala” without moving their jaw up/down or side to side. Rest and repeat.

• Step 2

Imitate a variety or oral-motor exercises in front of a mirror.

PURPOSE

This activity helps the learner refine lip movements and in turn coordinate with the jaw, and tongue for speech production and managing developmentally appropriate textures for feeding.

• Step 1

  Tightly seal lips to say “mmmmmmm.”

• Step 2

  Put on “lipstick” or chapstick with purees (ranch dressing, applesauce) and pucker to make kisses on the table or on a mirror. Learner can also lick puree off lips using tongue only.

Use some cotton balls, straw and a tape or colors to set up a maze on the floor. Blow cotton balls with a straw along the path treated on the floor/table.

PURPOSE

This activity helps improve stamina and breath support for speech production and feeding.

• Step 1

  Create a maze or a football goal on any table using masking tape or markers. You can also just use paper cups or any objects to create a maze

• Step 2