Summer Activities: A Learning Journey
April 10, 2024
ASHA Approved CE Provider!
June 10, 2024
...For Feeding Success!
No one has time for a mess. I get it. I don’t like messes either.
If you are just entering the solid food stage or you are in DEEP with feeding frustrations or somewhere in between…keep reading!
It’s SO tempting to feed children at meal times with a spoon and wipe their mouth off with the spoon as you go or clean up with a washcloth after feeding. These are faster and less messy, allowing us to move on to the next task. Spoon feeding also allows us to have more control of which foods and how much. We are well intentioned people, we love our kids, and our to-do list is ever growing, but—there’s always a but—letting our kids get messy, experiment, and feed themselves is incredibly beneficial!
Think: Fine motor coordination, Healthy eating habits, Sensory exposure, Social interactions!
Kids learn so much information from using all five senses. The mess is only temporary!
Engage All Five Senses!
SEEING the food
(Is the color the same on the inside as the outside? Do I like other foods of the same color? My favorite color is green and so is this broccoli!)
SMELLING the food
(We taste some with our nose! Is it sweet? Familiar? Smell is linked to memory!)
HEARING the food
(Is it loud and crunchy when I bite into it? Like those chips I like?)
TASTING the food
(How does it feel on my lips if I kiss the spoon full of peas? What about licking that slimy yogurt? Can I dip my finger in this oatmeal while still getting used to this stuff?)
TOUCHING the food
(How does it feel? Can I squish it? Does it feel different if it’s mixed up?)
If the food seems safe based on the information the senses have already taken in, they are gaining trust, we are giving them autonomy, which leads to willingness to try new foods.
:Try something similar to this coaching script below:
“We have broccoli and yogurt for a snack today! Let's see what they're like. First, take a look at the broccoli. Is it the same color green as your favorite color green? Let’s give it a sniff. Does it smell like a plant? Can you hear a crunch when you snap a piece? Does it feel bumpy at the top and smooth at the bottom-which do you like better? Ready to give it a try? You can give it a kiss or see how it feels on your tongue, even just hide it in your mouth! If you’re not ready, let’s try out the yogurt. Is it cold and slippery? Does it smell sweet like the ice cream you like? Try dipping your finger for a small taste! Not ready to eat spoonfuls yet? Maybe we could use our fingers to draw shapes in the yogurt on our mat!”
Repetition is key. It takes a LONG time and MANY MANY exposures to get used to a new food.
Before meal time: GET READY!
Put down a trash bag under the high chair. Use an easy clean up surface! Take off their shirt if desired. Take a deep breath and SMILE.
NEXT:
Show the foods. ASK and give choices. (Would you like to try the green peas or the yellow squash?)
Give small amounts (a few at a time or a tablespoon of that non-preferred cottage cheese for extra protein <wink>)
FOCUS ON FUN! Let them get M-E-S-S-Y! Provide positive body language, facial expressions, and reinforcement. Narrate your actions by using a playful voice and demonstrating! “I’m going to take these beans for a ride on the spaceship spoon!” Describe how they taste to you and be honest. “These are salty and taste bitter to me, they aren’t my favorite, but I’ll try another bite.”
Let me leave you with this:
Feeding is complicated but can also be FUN.
Try JUST ONE messy meal a week to build positive associations with food.
