All About Rotary Chewing and Speech Therapy
Has your child began chewing? When they start to chew, you may have noticed that their mouth moves in an up-and-down motion that characterizes lateral chewing. As they grow, they will develop a rotary chewing method, which involves the mouth moving side to side. The tongue moves horizontally to break down food so it becomes digestible.
The preferred and mature way of chewing is Rotary chewing. It decreases the time needed to break down food, so mealtimes aren’t long and exhausting. It ensures people can eat different types of food, so they get proper nutrition. Proper chewing can also aid with speech development. It allows children to develop motor skills in their mouth and build muscles that correspond to those used when speaking. Rotary chewing skills should come naturally, but some children are slower to develop them than others.
Develop Rotational Skills
During play by drawing your child’s attention to an object behind them when they are sitting up. Or manipulate their body with gentle stretches. In time, they will turn their torso more easily, a skill that will eventually translate to oral movements.
Encourage Lateral Chewing
Children must develop lateral chewing before they move on to rotary chewing. Start with dissolvable stick shapes like veggie straws for thin pretzels. Place them so they reach their molars or pre-molar gums. When the crumbs touch their tongue, they will get feedback from crunching, which helps them develop a lateral, then rotary, chewing motion.How to
Talk to Your Kids About Nutrition
Here are tips to start conversations about your child's nutrition.
Example: Foods rich in lycopene, a.k.a. fruits and vegetables are naturally red in color.
Age 0-4: “Red foods make your heart strong.”
Age 5-6: “Red foods have something in them called lycopene. It’s red and helps protect your heart and body for a long time.”
Age 7-12: “Lycopene is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect our heart, skin, and other parts of our bodies for a long time. It gives red foods their red color.”
Age 13+: “Lycopene is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect our bodies from free radicals and oxidative stress. It helps protect from cancer, heart disease, and more.”
Top 10 Foods for Your Child's Development
1. Salmon is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.2. Eggs are a source of choline, which is important for brain and memory function.3. Lean meats are rich sources of zinc and iron, which aid in supplying oxygen to the brain.4. Dairy provides calcium, which plays a large role in bone health.5. Nuts & seeds have essential fatty acids, vitamins, and protein, all of which aid in brain function.6. Wholegrains are rich in carbohydrates and fiber, which maintain a constant supply of glucose for brain energy and function.7. Beans provide carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and B vitamins.8. Dark green veggies – especially broccoli, spinach, and kale – are rich in antioxidants, which protect your body and brain against oxidative stress and free radical damage.9. Berries, such as strawberries and blueberries, are also very rich in antioxidants (see above).10. Water, although not a “food,” it is an essential part of daily life and is often underestimated and undervalued.
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