ARK's Blog

Chewing as Communication and Regulation Chewing is often one of the first things parents notice and wonder about. It shows up in different ways across development and can feel confusing when it suddenly increases or decreases without a clear reason. From the lens of a pediatric occupational therapist, chewing is not random or simply a habit to eliminate. It is communication. It is regulation. And …

Hand and finger chewing are one of the most common things we get questions about at ARK. Why? Because our hands and fingers literally go with us everywhere! For kids and adults who chew on their fingers, knuckles, or the fleshy parts of their palms, that constant availability is exactly the point - the body itself becomes the chewing outlet. In that sense, finger and hand chewing is the most strip …

Does bite marks on pens and pencils sound familiar?  Pens and pencils are among the most common items people chew on.  Chewing can help increase focus and attention, so it makes sense that a pen or pencil would be a go-to outlet.  Whether you're eight years old working through a spelling test or thirty-four years old working through a big project - a writing tool is right there as y …

School’s almost out - we can feel the summer sun, smell the fresh air, and almost hear yearbook committees everywhere assigning superlatives to their classmates. Our chew tools have been hard at work all year serving your sensory needs - so we thought we’d have some fun and assign some superlatives to them as well! Without further ado, ARK’s Chewy Superlatives: . . Most Likely t …