What is "Ninja Therapy"?
Occupational Therapist, Emily Martin coined the term "ninja therapy" to describe her way of helping kids and adults address their sensory and developmental needs in subtle ways. By disguising therapeutic activities in a friendly, not-so-clinical way, kiddos get the benefits of the therapy they need wrapped up in a discreet way.
Channel Your Inner Ninja
Oral Motor Skills
For children who have difficulty with talking and need to refine their oral motor skills, one of the best ways to help sharpen their abilities is to strengthen their mouth. The silicone chewies we offer are durable, kid-proof, colorful, and fun. We offer a wide selection here. Every Tuesday is Chewsday at eSpecial Needs, which means that Chew-A-Roo Chewies are BOGO 1/2 off, with free shipping.
Stimming
A lot of kids chew on a lot of stuff. Whether it's shirts, pencils, etc., the fact remains that kids will chew. For children with special needs or children who are on the spectrum, chewing can be a way of "stimming," or stimulating, their senses, providing comfort, and giving proprioceptive feedback. The ninja therapy here is pretty simple"”all you have to do is pop a little silicone chewie on the end of their pencil to help them focus on their schoolwork and keep the bite marks off their pencils. They are the perfect small, discreet ninja therapy device to help any child stimm.
It's Not Just For Kids
Chewies are not just for kids"”adults can benefit from these, too. When big kids are stressed out, anxious, or nervous, whether, in college, post-graduate studies, or at work, adults tend to clench their jaws or grind their teeth subconsciously, which isn't a good thing. To relieve a bit of pressure on your jaw and to help get rid of stress, just pop a chewie on the end of a pen or pencil. Ninja therapy for yourself can be as easy as that!
Going Forward
Ninja therapy is a great way to help kids reach their goals, whether its behavioral, physical, or school-related. Please remember that, while these tactics might work for some, they may not work for all. Each individual, situation, school, and parent are different. No one knows you or your child better than you do, so remember that each suggestion we make is to be used at your discretion. If you have any questions for our Occupational Therapist Emily, please submit them below! Please keep in mind that filling out this form results in the potential for your question to be anonymously shared on our blog with our answer. We try to be as responsive and helpful as possible, but submitting your question does not guarantee a response.
