Turning Mealtime Battles into Playtime Fun: The Power of Play in Feeding Therapy
Mealtimes can be a time for connection and nourishment for some families but for others, they can be a battle, filled with stress, tears, and power struggles. Mealtimes can be challenging when you are dealing with a child who has feeding difficulties.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. One way to help alleviate mealtime stress is PLAY!
Play isn’t just for the playground; it’s a powerful tool that can transform mealtimes and can create positive associations with food.
Why Play Matters in Feeding Therapy
Feeding therapy aims to address a range of challenges, from sensory aversions and oral motor difficulties to behavioral feeding issues. Introducing play into this process offers several key benefits:
- Reduces Anxiety: Mealtimes can be incredibly stressful for children with feeding difficulties. Play helps to create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, reducing anxiety and makes the experience more pleasant
- Encourages Exploration: Play provides a safe and pressure-free environment for children to explore new foods. They can touch, smell, and even play with food without the expectation of having to eat it.
- Develops Oral Motor Skills: Many play activities, such as blowing bubbles, making funny faces, and using straws, can help to strengthen the muscles involved in eating and swallowing.
- Increases Engagement: Play is naturally engaging for children. By incorporating play into feeding, therapists can capture a child’s attention and motivate them to participate in the process.
- Builds Positive Associations: By associating food with fun and positive experiences, play can help to change negative perceptions and create a more positive relationship with food.
How to Incorporate Play into Feeding
There are countless ways to bring play into feeding, and the specific activities will vary depending on the child’s age, abilities, and specific challenges. Here are a few examples:
- Food Art: Use food to create pictures, sculptures, or other art projects. This can be as simple as making faces on a plate with vegetables or building a tower with crackers.
- Sensory Bins: Fill a bin with dry rice, beans, or pasta and hide small food items inside for the child to find. This encourages tactile exploration and desensitization.
- Pretend Play: Use dolls or action figures to act out mealtime scenarios. This can help children to understand the steps involved in eating and to practice appropriate mealtime behaviors.
- Games: Adapt classic games like “Simon Says” or “I Spy” to incorporate food-related actions or items.
Sensory Exploration with Feeding:
- Touch & Feel:
- Squishy Bags: Place different foods (like cooked pasta, pudding, or even mashed fruits) inside ziplock bags. Let your child squish, poke, and feel the different textures.
- Finger Painting: Use pureed fruits or vegetables (like mashed sweet potato or avocado) as paints for finger painting.
- Playdough with Food: Incorporate edible ingredients like shredded cheese, chopped vegetables, or even small pieces of fruit into homemade playdough.
- Visual Exploration:
- Color Sorting: Gather a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. Have your child sort them by color.
- Food Scavenger Hunt: Hide small pieces of food or snacks (like dried fruit or nuts) around the house and let your child find them.
Developing Skills with Feeding:
- Cutting & Slicing: Use soft foods like bananas, tofu, or dough to practice cutting and slicing with child-safe knives.
- Scooping & Pouring: Provide your child with different sized bowls and spoons. Let them practice scooping and pouring water, rice, or beans.
- Building & Stacking: Use small pieces of food (like crackers or cereal) to build towers or create other structures.
Tips for Feeding for Parents and Caregivers
- Safety First: Always supervise food play activities closely, especially with very young children.
- Keep it Fun: The goal of food play is to make eating enjoyable. If your child seems stressed or frustrated, stop the activity and try again later.
- Involve Real Food: Gradually introduce real foods into food play activities to help your child become more comfortable with different tastes and textures.
- Be patient and supportive. It may take time for your child to develop a positive relationship with food.
- Follow your child’s lead. Let them explore food at their own pace and don’t pressure them to eat if they’re not ready.
- Consult with a feeding therapist. A qualified therapist can provide personalized guidance and support.
By incorporating play into feeding therapy, we can transform mealtimes from stressful battles into opportunities for connection, exploration, and growth. Let’s put away the pressure and bring on the play!
For more information, check out this blog. If you’re concerned about your child’s eating/feeding habits, Kids Place Pediatric Therapy is here to help!
