My ten year old is exactly the same, and always has been. She's always chewing on *something*. Interestingly, she also has trouble eating enough to keep weight on, and doesn't particularly like eating. She has some kind of sensory seeking behaviour, but is then overwhelmed if it tastes of something! She'll only eat the blandest of foods.
The best thing I can think of is to find them something they can safely chew on, and to help them develop some stress maintenance technique for when it is inappropriate to put things in their mouths. My dd for instance has taken up drum corps this year and her fidgeting seems to have transferred from sticking stuff in her mouth to tapping out rhythms on the table... equally aggravating LOL but easier on her teeth!
Oh Mel... I have a friend who's little boy is also 3 and OMG he's a SHOCKER!! He started licking things in the past few months also and GROSS! He's ALWAYS been one to "taste" things and chew toys etc.... apparently like TMTM said it's a sensory thing. There are 4 groups of people, mouth and touch are the only 2 I can remember straight off the top of my head.. but the mouth explorers is exactly that... they MUST taste and feel the world with their mouths and touch well... I think Oskar might be a bit like that... touch and feel the world. Not overly helpful to you, but as he gets older you'll be able to redirect him a bit like TMTM suggested... sorry hun!
If you google Chewlery it's these necklaces and bracelets that are made of this chewy stuff designed to keep busy mouths away from other things... Might be worth considering.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks