How and Why Kid Companions Chewerly Came to Be

by Pierrette d’Entremont

Pierrette d’Entremont, Bio: President of Pida, maker of Kid Companions Chewelry www.kidcompanions.com , project leader, manager, mother of three. I attended The University of Ottawa in the Health Sciences, Human Kinetics program. I am also a jewellery designer and Accredited Jewelry Professional.

Kids, tweens, teens and adults with Sensory Processing issues and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may actually concentrate, focus and stay on task better with a little foot-tapping, gum-chewing, biting and fidgeting. A great solution is to provide Kid Companions Chewelry. These discreet, efficient chewable fidgets started in the home of a young mom trying to help her sensitive child. Armed with the need, the research and the will to find an acceptable chewy/fidget for this sensitive child, that is how the Kid Companions Chewelry was invented.

 

It was 2006 and the road ahead would be long with many challenges we’d need to overcome. As a mother, I wanted to see my children happy. Part of having a happy special needs youth is having one that functions well at school, at play and especially, as best she can with her peers. With time, needing to belong to her peer group would become more and more important. That meant creating something that was chewable and tuggable while still being “cool” enough to blend in. Finally, we had a solution….a durable, colorful, non-toxic pendant that was safe to chew on…something that could help any child be him/herself, anytime, anywhere.

 

Years of research and development went into making Kid Companions Chewelry from finding materials for the design idea to testing prototypes and final parts. We wanted FDA approved, North American sourced/made and socially responsible materials. THAT was a tall order, but we did it! We have followed ASTM standards and have passed the new CPSIA 3rd party testing. We have our 3rd Party Certificate documenting the safety standards met. We even keep a record of all MSDS certificates from our suppliers.

 

In the end, we learned a lot. From injection molding, to lab testing, to exporting and distribution channels… logistics, FDA and marketing. The red tape was endless.  However after eighteen months of selling online at www.kidcompanions.com and through Special Needs stores from Australia to Canada, we are pleased with our product and even added to our line.

“Mothers know best” when it comes to their Special Needs children.” This mantra guides many decisions in families.  So we took seriously  the pleas of distraught moms who told us no cool, sensory chewable fidgets were available for their older children, especially for boys. Kid Companions went to work and may we introduce you to “A new Kid on our Block”

Our new, Blue fidget chewy, is another choice to our circled sensory, oral-motor tool line. You now have three attractive color choices: black, white and our new,

Kid in Blue. The circled shaped rubbery, chewable fidgets are smooth and pleasing with a hard embossed “dot”.

Tweens, Teens and Cool little boys favor our circle shapes. Stylish and discreet, these circle shapes can blend in but be easily accessible as a chewing or fidgeting tool when you need it. Most girls prefer the chewy necklace with the heart pendants.

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Still want to wear it like a fashionable chew necklace?

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Our 18 inch or 20 inch colorful lanyards are now 100% organic cotton! They are colorfast and pre-washed with plant-based ingredients. MUCH more durable than our original rayon/cotton ones and still washable!

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Our lanyards can be personalize with style, color and contact information. We can heat press name and information. Example-John Smith 514- 2005 Autism. Moreover, the lanyards can be sold separately, can be used for any pendant or ID badge and can also be personalized.

 

Do you have a lanyard chewer?

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Our new undyed 100% organic cotton is a good choice because they are non-allergenic. Personalized printing looks GREAT on them too!

The comfortable lanyards have a custom breakaway clasp that releases and re-attaches with ease. This means no more lost, dropped or thrown mouthing and fidgeting aids. The breakaway is small and lays flat. It was designed specifically for children and conforms to ASTM toy safety standard! It is also BPA, lead and phthalate free.

Clips are another unique feature that makes Kid Companions attractive to tween and teens. Clipping the fidget anywhere you want it to be…clothing, pocket, belt, pillows, school bag. Discreetly accessible at all times.

If circles are not your thing, you can always opt for our heart shaped pendants. Hearts are great for fidgeting with their added oval dip similar in shape and function to a worry stone. We now have a NEW black heart for TWEEN and TEEN girls to blend in!

All Kid Companions are safe, bpa, phthalate, pvc, lead and latex free. Our materials are economical as possible without compromising safety or social  responsibility.

All our products are durable, washable, and fashionable. Made in Canada, sourced in USA and Canada, Kid Companions allow special children to relax, to focus and to learn. Tweens, teens, their parents and their teachers will surely welcome the new blue circle, the black heart  and all our Kid Companions Chewelry.