Getting to the WHY of FOOD PLAY

Food play is employed by various professionals to assist children in achieving eating and mealtime objectives. It encompasses a variety of activities such as constructing with food, mashing and painting with food, and conducting experiments. This method can be integrated with several therapeutic approaches, including Sensory Oral Sequencing by Kay Toomey and Food Chaining by Cox, Fishbein, Fraker, and Walbert.

The Benefits of Food Play for a Child 

There are numerous reasons to incorporate food play into therapy sessions. Many children with sensory motor differences experience frequent negative and unsafe situations during mealtime. Food play offers a secure introduction to food interactions, providing a tiered approach that caters to the individual needs of each child. It fosters a mindset centered on a child's capabilities with food, rather than focusing solely on their ability to consume it. Additionally, food play can enhance descriptive language related to food experiences, establishing a framework for mealtime communication. For instance, it can draw parallels between the properties of different foods: 'Crushing this cracker makes a crunch sound like popcorn!' A well-developed food descriptor vocabulary helps in understanding the child's perspective, thereby facilitating adjustments to meet their needs: 'You said you enjoy the taste of salty chips. What if we add some salt to these potatoes to see what it tastes like?' These principles can be introduced through food play and later applied to actual meal situations. Overall, food play can transform a child's overwhelming and distressing mealtime experiences into ones of curiosity and exploration.

The Family Benefits of Food Play

Food play offers a dynamic and impactful approach for caregivers to engage positively with their children regarding food. Engaging in food play allows families to transform their perspective on food interactions. For instance, a family experiencing heightened stress and conflict during meals may begin therapeutic services. This family that prides itself on creativity could use food art as a means to redefine their collective food engagement. Through this significant art activity, they can begin to apply descriptive language, incorporating therapeutic concepts into their everyday life. These shared experiences prove advantageous not only in the moment but also extend to enhance the dynamics of mealtime.

Food play serves as an important instrument in fostering positive experiences with food and mealtimes for children during therapy sessions and within their family environments. Keep an eye out for our next newsletter, which will delve into the professional rationale for employing food play with children who have various sensory motor profiles.

References -

• Fraker, C., Fishbein, M., Cox, S., & Walbert, L. (2007). Food Chaining: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Child’s Diet (Illustrated). Da Capo Lifelong Books.

•Toomey, K. (2006, Nov). When Children Won’t Eat: The SOS Approach to Feeding. Hartford, CT.