How to Help a Preschooler Who Chews on Everything

By Marcia Hall, as seen on Gonannies.com

Children, like adults, develop habits and quirks that are unique to them. These habits are often most recognized when the person or child feels stress or anxiety. While there are many ways to help relieve and reduce the stress a child feels, it is not really possible to eliminate it all together. Not all of these habits are harmful, but some of them can cause problems as your child grows. While chewing on things can be harmless in some instances, it can also cause many problems. When children chew on hair, clothes or objects, it can spread germs, ruin clothes and make other people uncomfortable. Here are a few things you can do to help find healthy outlets for your child when he chews.

• Recognize and educate those around your child that the chewing is simply his way of trying to relax in a situation where he is uncomfortable. 
• Avoid making the child feel bad about his habit. 
• Help him by finding an object that he can chew on that will not hurt his teeth or ruin clothes. 
• Be sure to make time daily with your child where he is free to share some of the emotions he is feeling. 

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