Chewing non-food items

immediate things parents can do

1) Keep a list of the items your child eats or mouths. Share this list
with your child’s doctors, teachers or other caregivers.

2) Keep track of how often your child displays pica behavior in a
notebook.

3) Keep a list of the places and situations where your child puts
things in his/her mouth.

4) Keep non-food items your child frequently attempts to eat out
of his or her sight. Move items to a safe location such as the
basement.

5) Put locks on cabinets, closets or doors that contain possible
pica objects.

6) Vacuum or sweep floors daily to reduce items on the floor that
your child might eat.

7) Enrich your child’s environment. During down times, provide
access to things your child likes to do that do not include pica
items.

8) Teach danger awareness skills. Have your child practice
identifying things that are non-edible or dangerous.

things u can do with professional training

1) Blocking: Blocking is when an adult puts his or her hand on top of the child’s hands to “block”
them from putting an item in his or her mouth. This can reduce pica for many children. How and
when you block is important, though. This is why parents should get help if this is needed. Other
things to think about include:

2) Skill-building: Teaching your child how to identify food from non-food items can lessen pica.
This is usually done using rewards and pictures (called discrimination training). To do this:
• Have your child sit at a table with a plate on a colored placemat.
• Put a few non-food items on the table.
• Put a favorite food on your child’s plate.
• Reward your child for eating from the plate and not putting the non-food items in his/her
mouth.

3) Snack scheduling: Make a snack available on a set schedule (every 30 minutes or hour).
Tell your child that he/she can have a snack but don’t try to make him/her eat it. More frequent
snacks might provide your child with other options besides non-food items.

4) Reward schedule: Give a reward such as a toy for not eating non-food items for a period of
time.

5) Teach different behaviors such as picking up pica items and throwing them away or
returning them to their place. Break the skill down into steps and help your child practice each
step.

6) Attend to health issues related to pica:

• Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about having his/her iron and zinc status tested. Low levels
of these nutrients can contribute to pica. 
• Provide vitamins or supplements if advised by your child’s doctor or nurse.
• Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about testing for lead. Children with pica should have their
lead levels tested regularly.
• See a nutritionist if your child is on a special diet or is very picky.
• Make sure your child sees a dentist regularly.
• Make sure your regular dentist, doctors and nurses know your child has pica.
• If your child has new health problems, make sure the doctors and nurses caring for him or her
know about the pica.

immediate things parents can do

1) Keep a list of the items your child eats or mouths. Share this list
with your child’s doctors, teachers or other caregivers.

2) Keep track of how often your child displays pica behavior in a
notebook.

3) Keep a list of the places and situations where your child puts
things in his/her mouth.

4) Keep non-food items your child frequently attempts to eat out
of his or her sight. Move items to a safe location such as the
basement.

5) Put locks on cabinets, closets or doors that contain possible
pica objects.

6) Vacuum or sweep floors daily to reduce items on the floor that
your child might eat.

7) Enrich your child’s environment. During down times, provide
access to things your child likes to do that do not include pica
items.

8) Teach danger awareness skills. Have your child practice
identifying things that are non-edible or dangerous.

things u can do with professional training

1) Blocking: Blocking is when an adult puts his or her hand on top of the child’s hands to “block”
them from putting an item in his or her mouth. This can reduce pica for many children. How and
when you block is important, though. This is why parents should get help if this is needed. Other
things to think about include:

2) Skill-building: Teaching your child how to identify food from non-food items can lessen pica.
This is usually done using rewards and pictures (called discrimination training). To do this:
• Have your child sit at a table with a plate on a colored placemat.
• Put a few non-food items on the table.
• Put a favorite food on your child’s plate.
• Reward your child for eating from the plate and not putting the non-food items in his/her
mouth.

3) Snack scheduling: Make a snack available on a set schedule (every 30 minutes or hour).
Tell your child that he/she can have a snack but don’t try to make him/her eat it. More frequent
snacks might provide your child with other options besides non-food items.

4) Reward schedule: Give a reward such as a toy for not eating non-food items for a period of
time.

5) Teach different behaviors such as picking up pica items and throwing them away or
returning them to their place. Break the skill down into steps and help your child practice each
step.

6) Attend to health issues related to pica:

• Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about having his/her iron and zinc status tested. Low levels
of these nutrients can contribute to pica. 
• Provide vitamins or supplements if advised by your child’s doctor or nurse.
• Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about testing for lead. Children with pica should have their
lead levels tested regularly.
• See a nutritionist if your child is on a special diet or is very picky.
• Make sure your child sees a dentist regularly.
• Make sure your regular dentist, doctors and nurses know your child has pica.
• If your child has new health problems, make sure the doctors and nurses caring for him or her
know about the pica.