5 Alternative Activities For Children That Like to Squeeze

I was at soccer with my youngest child yesterday when I overheard a frustrated parent. They were repeatedly telling their child to take their hands out of their mouth.

I GET IT, all the germs and then the illnesses that happen as a result. It can feel maddening to watch them put their hands and other non-food items in their mouth.

But what we have to realize is that children are sensorial explorers. They are driven to learn more about the world around them and they do this by using all of their senses.

Saying things like, "stop doing that" over and over, isn't going to change this type of behaviour.

So rather than trying to prevent it, you'll likely have more success redirecting an undesirable behaviour to something safe and/or acceptable.

If they're putting non-food items in their mouth, chewlery is a great option.

This could look like a child that's always squeezing or squishing up their food, making it inedible. Your child might also be squeezing you, other children/siblings, or pets, which can hurt!

It's important to know that squeezing is a typical part of a young child’s development because it helps them learn about:

1. Sensory Exploration - Squeezing provides tactile feedback, allowing children to explore different textures, resistances, and sensations. This supports their sensory processing and helps make sense of the world around them.
   
   
2. Developing Hand Strength - Squeezing helps build fine motor skills and hand strength, which are essential for future tasks like writing, using tools, and self-care activities.
   
   
3. Emotional Regulation - The repetitive action of squeezing can be soothing and provide an outlet for stress, frustration, or excitement. It helps young children regulate emotions in a non-verbal way.
   
   
4. Cause and Effect Learning - Children are fascinated by how objects respond to their actions. For example, squeezing a bath toy and making it squeak teaches them about cause and effect.

Five Alternative Activities For Children That Like to Squeeze

1. Add toys to your child’s playroom that they can safely squeeze, like plush animals, soft balls, etc.
2. In the toddler years, you can introduce them to play dough. Play dough can be squeezed over and over again.
3. Offer a spray bottle and squeegee and then invite your child to clean the windows You can also take the spray bottle into the bath.
4. Make orange juice. You can use a juicer or invite the child to squeeze the orange with their hands. And they’ve got a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice when they’re done!
5. Offer fidget toys/stress balls - ORB Smooshies or the KP Sensory Hand Fidgets are all designed to be safely squished.  '

If this post is helpful, you might also like these ones about redirecting other types of undesirable behaviour:

• 5 Alternative Activities for Children Who Like to Peel and Pick at Things
• 4 Alternative Activities for Children Who Like to Throw
• 5 Dumping Activities for Toddlers That Satisfy Your Child's Urge to Dump Out Their Toys