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  • Shared Experiences

    Fidgeting.. Does Chewing Gum help?

    Related Topics
    Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Children's Health
    Fidgety kids. Does chewing gum settle them down, and enable them to focus on work?

    I have read that physical activity increases levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Both chemicals play a key role in sharpening focus and increasing attention."

    This may help to explain why they fidget.

    So has anyone tried gum? Does it work? Do you think it gives them an alternate physical outlet without driving the teacher nuts.
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    CHI.L.D Association

    Serving the interests of children and young people with childhood language and related disorders View Profile

    Hi Roch,

    Chewing gum, fidget toys and many other sensory based activities can help children with attention difficulties. The important thing when deciding what is best used is to work out what type of sensory input the child is needing. Occupational therapists can create a ‘sensory profile’ for the individual child and make recommendations about what will help the child find their ‘calm and alert’ state. Having this individual profile and strategies in place can make a big difference to their functioning in the classroom environment.

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