Are you in New England? Curious about our Saturday Morning Seminar Series?
Get a peek inside Therapro, and hear Barbara Smith (The Recycling OT) talk about her book, From Rattles to Writing: A Parent’s Guide to Hand Skills (available at therapro.com).
Our next event, Sensory Success in School, is coming up soon – register for the workshop on November 3rd by emailing info@therapro.com, or calling (800) 257-5376.
Our therapy putty is great for many reasons: developing a pincer grasp, picking things up, strengthening muscles, and hand therapy, among others.
Parents will often get instructions from their child’s therapist to get putty for hand strengthening. One of the questions we get the most is:
“Which color putty is best for my child?”
Putty color is dependent on the resistance.
LIGHT BLUE is the softest:
The softest putty is best for people who are very weak in the hands.
You also want to have enough resistance to strengthen the hand, so if this one is too soft you can move up to the light green.
Buy enough putty so you can hide things in it (like mini animals!). Also, when someone has limited range in their hand, we want them to have enough putty to be able to grasp it.
(Be careful – the light blue putty can develop a string when you pull it, and can stain surfaces – see this list for recommendations to get it out.)
LIGHT GREEN is medium/soft
DARK BLUE is firm
DARK GREEN is super firm
We can hardly cut and package the firmest putty!
The firmest putty is great for adolescents with behavioral problems. They are often so agitated, they need that kind of heavy work/proprioception. They use it as a means of intensity. They need that intensity – similar to music.
A less resistant putty doesn’t require the effort that an adolescent might need.
The power fist is also fun for the kids!
“My child doesn’t like this color – can I get the other one?”
We color our putties so it’s easy for you to tell which strength you need – “the light blue one” can be your go-to if you forget the exact resistance.
You can work your way up in resistance/color – once the hand gets stronger, you will need a firmer putty!
“How do I get putty out of [x]?”
We get calls on that all the time – it’s another one of our biggest questions. We suggest using the putty in the kitchen – it is silicone based and will come off of hard surfaces easily!
If you do end up with a stain on fabric, stuck in hair, etc., we have compiled a list of suggestions to get it out!
The Chewy Tubes Oral Motor Tools family offers a wide range of products designed to support oral motor de
velopment and sensory needs in children and adults. These safe, durable, and versatile tools are ideal for improving chewing, biting, and self-regulation skills, making them an essential part of occupational and speech therapy. Whether used for sensory input or as part of a therapeutic intervention, Chewy Tubes help individuals develop the necessary oral motor skills to thrive in daily activities.
Which of the Chewy Tubes oral motor tools is right for your child? With this guide, you’ll be able to pick the perfect resistance and style.
Yellow (smooth)
The Yellow Chewy Tube is used with a smaller jaw, typically infants and children up to 2 years old and individuals who cannot open the jaw very wide. The Yellow Chewy Tube features a narrow stem of 3/8″ OD.
Red (smooth)
The Red Chewy Tube is typically used with toddlers, older children and adults to provide a smooth surface for practicing biting and chewing skills. The Red Chewy Tube features a stem of ½” OD.
Green (knobby)
The Green Knobby Tube offers increased sensory input from the raised bumps along the bitable stem. It provides a slightly firmer bitable surface. The Green Knobby Tube features a stem of 9/16″ OD.
Blue (smooth)
The Blue Chewy Tube is the largest and firmest of the Chewy Tubes. It is intended for adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities, autism or sensory integration disorders. The Blue Chewy Tube features a stem of 5/8″ OD.
Red Super Chew (knobby)
The Red Super Chew offers a solid yet bumpy surface for practicing biting and chewing skills. The closed loop handle is easily grasped by little fingers. The Red Super Chew features a stem of 9/16″ OD.
Green Super Chew (smooth)
The Green Super Chew offers a solid and smooth surface for practicing biting and chewing skills. The closed loop handle is easily grasped by little fingers. The Green Super Chew features a stem of ½” OD.
Ps & Qs provide a smooth and solid surface for practicing biting and chewing skills. The Q is wide enough for bilateral chewing activities and the P is especially easy to grasp by small fingers or those with low muscle tone.
Chewy Tube handles have corrugated ridges to assist the grasp – especially useful for those who are visually impaired.