The holiday season is an ideal time to explore food play, especially for children who may face challenges with eating. Engaging in fun, sensory-based activities can help improve their comfort and skills around food. Here are five ways to incorporate food play during the holidays from a pediatric feeding therapist.
Sensory Baking Activities for Hands-On Exploration
Baking can be a fantastic sensory experience. Choose simple recipes like cookies or muffins, allowing children to explore textures, smells, and colors. Encourage them to mix ingredients by hand, feel the dough, and decorate with colorful toppings. This hands-on approach can reduce anxiety around food while fostering a positive relationship with cooking.
Themed Food Art To Explore Creativity
Create holiday-themed food art to engage kids in a fun and relaxing holiday activity. Use fruits, vegetables, and dried noodles to make festive designs, such as Christmas trees from broccoli and cheese or snowmen from yogurt and fruit. This activity encourages creativity and allows children to explore new foods without pressure of eating.
Family Game Night for All Ages
Minute-To-Win-It games using food during the holidays are an exciting way to bring everyone together for some laughter and friendly competition. This is a great activity for older kids! Picture the family gathered around, cheering each other on as they try to stack cookies on their foreheads or race to transfer marshmallows with chopsticks.
The pressure of the timer makes it even more fun as everyone scrambles to complete silly tasks in under 60 seconds. It’s a playful and lighthearted way to break from the usual holiday traditions, and it creates lasting memories filled with smiles, snacks, and the joy of being together.
Cooking With Kids
Involve children in preparing holiday meals or snacks. Assign them age-appropriate tasks, like washing vegetables, stirring ingredients, or assembling dishes. This collaborative approach builds confidence and provides opportunities to be exposed to new foods, textures, and smells without the pressure of eating new or uncomfortable foods.
Holiday Food Playdates To Build Social Skills
Organize food playdates with classmates or family members. Focus on activities that involve food play, such as decorating cookies or building gingerbread houses. The social aspect can help reduce anxiety and encourage kids to try foods in a supportive environment, making it a positive experience.
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center Makes Feeding Fun
Incorporating food play during the holidays can be a joyful and therapeutic experience for children, especially those facing feeding challenges. By focusing on sensory exploration, creativity, and social interaction, you can help foster a positive relationship with food. This holiday season, make mealtime fun and engaging, paving the way for healthier eating habits in the future. Does your child need feeding support?
Contact us today to learn more about how together we can support your child’s feeding needs!
Sources:
Addessi E, Galloway AT, Visalberghi E, Birch LL. Specific social influences on the acceptance of novel foods in 2-5-year-old children. Appetite. 2005 Dec;45(3):264-71. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2005.07.007. Epub 2005 Oct 18. PMID: 16239048.
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