How to practice the mouth gym ?
- Loulilou
- 9 juin 2024
- 5 min de lecture
Dernière mise à jour : 21 juil.
The Mouth Gym is an original concept
created by Loulilou and illustrated by V. Maillard.
The Mouth Gym is a funny game that tones up the orofacial sphere mobilizing voluntary movements of the tongue, lips and cheeks.
The different positions performed on imitation require attention, tone and precision.
The mouth gym is above all a game intended to explore the oral and facial possibilities in a good mood in early childhood structures, speech therapist, nursery schools or schools. It is aimed at all children over 3 years old.
This activity helps promote functional swallowing, and chewing, as well as good articulation.
Mouth Gym in day-care centers and schools
The Mouth Gym workshop is easy to set up with a group of children or a class and offers a fun and dynamic break from the daily routine (like a "break-up worshop"). The game also promotes awareness of the "cheeks, lips and tongues body image.
This activity encourages children to grow up, making them the actors of their own articulation and orofacial mobility !
If you plan to offer this activity regularly, it's a good idea to set up a small "language corner / area" within your school or classroom, including :
the mouth gym poster
laminated mouth gym cards
digital cards (to do a coloring)
and mirrors (children can bring pocket mirrors if the structure doesn't have any).
Progress of the activity / worshop
The adult informs the parents in advance of this new activity :
informing parents about this activity, which aims to discover the oro facial sphere (see the start of the post above)
explaining this activity to the group of children "We are going to play a new funny game together. It's called 'Mouth Gym'. We are going to make together some funny faces...We are going to have fun together !"
explaining how it works to the child : For example, "I'm going to show you some funny expressions to make with your tongue and lips, and you're going to try to do the same as me. Are you ready? Here we go! "
emphasize that the child needs to concentrate in order to
pay attention to the instructions
to be able to mobilize facial muscles
and reproduce the movement on demand.
verbalize each position BEFORE presenting each expression
give an example of a tonic and steady ovement (to encourage imitation). This is very important. Your exemplary expressions serve as the child's first model, but a mirror can also help to see the movement on oneself.
give the child time to understand the position, integrate the visual model presented
attempt to correctly execute the movement
It's important to let the child take the time to understand the instruction, integrate the visual model you present, and then try to perform the movement. This time must be respected... because remember that a child's rhythm is not that of an adult.
It's normal for him to miss certain movements at first (e.g., he sticks his tongue down when you ask him to stick it up), but with regular practice, he'll make rapid progress. The tongue (which has 17 muscles), lips and cheeks gradually tone up, as the sensory-motor experiences and various imitation attempts progress.
It's important to value what children are doing or trying to do. Above all, it's a shared moment of complicity, so have fun !
In this Mouth Gym workshop, it occurs that children want to
watch how other children perform the movement
touch the buddy's cheek when it's swollen
touch the adult's cheek to feel the tone of the movement
touch the child's own cheek "when it bumps" (e.g. when the tongue is inserted).
Is there a progression of cards to follow ?
There is no "rigid" progression to follow, given that this a fun, so - called "discovery" activity, and the adult leader is free ton suggest the card they want.
However, Loulilou informs you that the most difficult position cards, requiring a strong tongue and a certain finesse of execution, are :
I try to touch my nose with my tongue
I touch the tip of my tongue to my palate
I touch my premolars with my tongue
I say strong /TTT/ tongue on the roof of my mouth
I push my lips forward
I suck in my cheeks
I inflate my cheeks
I press my lips together for a kiss
I try to touch my nose with my tongue
Closing the workshop
After a few position cards in group or in pairs - the number of cards is at the discretion of the professional - you can end the worshop with the tong clik position card "I clack my tongue"
Why this one ? Because this card often generates excitement and good group dynamics, linked to the pace set by the adult. It therefore allows for a joyful closing ritual.
A few tips for successfully completing this position card and the closing
The adult begins by clicking the tongue very slowly on the palate while rocking their head from right to left toward their shoulder.
The adult alternates between a tongue click with their mouth out and a tongue click with lips forward
This produces two different sounds depending on the position of the lips
The adult continues this very slow rocking motion for as long as necessary, until the children do the same, following the same slow rhythm of head and tongue clicking
Ideally, the children and the adult should be in step with each other
Once the children are following your rhythm, the adult gradually begins to accelerate the head rocking and tong clicking.
As the tempo accelerates, the adult opens their arms outstretched to each side, palms facing the sky, and raises them gradually, keeping pace with the tempo.
In the final phase, the tongue clicks become extremely close together, and the head can no longer swing : the arms are stretched all the way up with the hands clasped.
The children are happy, and all you have to do is congratulate them for this invigorating and rhythmic moment !
This sequence marks the end of the workshop.
Independent discovery after the workshop
After the workshop in group, children can independently explore the Mouth Gym Cards. They are free to do a coloring (using the digital boards) ou to practice independently, using the Mouth Gym cards provided in the "language corner". It is better if children have mirrors not so far - they can also have a pocket mirror on hand.
Please note, Mouth Gym is practiced in relaxation and not with the aim of achieving performance... "Forcing" or any negative judgment would go against Loulilou's values and would not be respectful of the child.
Mouth Gym must remain fun. It is above all a moment of discovery, exchange and complicity between adults and children, so have fun!
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