Occupational therapy to help your child overcome their picky eating so they experience less anxiety around mealtimes & are more willing to try new foods.
As a parent it can be very stressful if your child is an extremely picky eater.
Mealtimes are hard, you worry about your child being able to find something to eat at restaurants or social events, and on top of that you most likely have (well meaning) adults giving you unsolicited advice on how to handle your child.
If you are tired of having to constantly battle your child to get them to eat a single veggie at dinner, I am happy to tell you there is another way to ensure your child can get the nourishment they need - and it doesn’t jeopardize your relationship with them.
Did you know that picky eating can be the result of a dysregulated nervous system & sensory differences?
Photo by K8 & Glen Carrie
This could be the culprit behind your child's picky eating, especially if your child..
- Frequently has a slumped posture (rounded shoulders, rests their head on the table or on their hand)
- Hates certain textures or smells
- Is easily distracted or fidgety, and struggles to sit long enough to eat a meal
- Frequently gags
- Struggles with grooming
- Frequently talks about how food looks gross or scary
- Is very sensitive to the temperature of their food/drinks
- Dislikes things being on their hands
- Chews with an open mouth, or regularly drools
- Over stuffs their mouth with food
- Struggles with holding utensils
- Frequently isn’t hungry or thirsty
The sensory & nervous systems can impact eating habits in one or more of these ways -
The sensory & nervous systems can impact eating habits in one or more of these ways -
Over Responsive Sensory System
If your child’s sensory system is oversensitive to certain textures, smells, or tastes, their nervous system could view certain foods as dangerous.
Under Responsive Sensory System
If your child’s sensory system is not able to pick up enough sensory information, it’s likely they will not receive their hunger or thirst cues.
Photo by Heather Barnes | Illustrations by Vecteezy.com
Motor Coordination Challenges
If your child's sensory system is under responsive, motor coordination skills can be impaired, making eating feel dangerous for your child.
Here's how our team of experienced occupational therapy practitioners can help your child overcome their feeding challenges & make mealtimes less stressful
4.
Build a strong sensory system
Using Ayers Sensory Integration Therapy we will focus on movement, muscle work, and tactile experiences that provide just the right amount of challenge to build lasting change in the sensory & nervous systems. We’ll also work on building the interoceptive sense so your child has a deeper connection with their body & understands their needs.
1.
Pinpoint specific challenges
First, we will do an evaluation to assess your child’s sensory system and its impact on your child’s feeding. We will use the information from the evaluation to build a treatment plan that increases variety in your child’s diet, and brings ease to mealtimes.
2.
Create a safe space
During weekly OT sessions we’ll build a personal connection with your child & validate their experiences so they can feel safe. We’ll do this by being present, identifying their interests and likes, and allowing space for them to communicate their feelings.
3.
Identify strategies to facilitate food exploration
This can include creating a fear plan, trying food hacks, creating a color classified food list, and making environmental adjustments.
We will not force or pressure your child to eat food they are not comfortable with.
Our team of therapists uses a supportive, strengths-based approach that accepts and celebrates each child’s individuality.
By building a trusting, respectful relationship with your child we will gently inspire and encourage them to explore in a safe space.
GET STARTED TODAY
Photo by Annie Spratt
FREQUNTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Anthem / Blue Cross Blue Shield. If you are covered by a different insurance company we will be out of network. We do not accept Medicaid.
If you do not have insurance coverage with Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, we recommend you reach out to see if your insurance provider will allow out of network reimbursement or gap coverage. We are willing to provide any super bills or documentation they may require. We do not file out of network claims. You will be responsible for filing your claims & paying our cash rate for services up front.
If you have insurance coverage with Anthem/Blue Cross we recommend you reach out directly to them to determine your coverage & what to expect to pay for OT services.
Our cash rate for evaluations is $400, and $160 for therapy sessions.
Occupational therapy is more of a 'long haul' journey. In our therapy sessions we are building muscles, rewiring & building new neural pathways in the brain, and working through challenging tasks. The skills we are working on in OT are skills that your child will use for their entire life! It is important to take the time it takes to build these skills so that your child can thrive for years to come. Depending on your child's specific goals, they could be in OT anywhere between six months to multiple years.
We aren’t just medical professionals spewing out clinical advice - I know exactly how you feel.
Growing up one of my girls was a certified p-i-c-k-y eater. I can still remember how hard it was to get her to eat just 10 peas! At the time, I didn’t understand why it was such a big deal for her to just eat the dang food, but now I can see why - and if only I had known what I do now, then.
I can’t go back and change things, but I can help families find a kinder, more effective approach that values connection over compliance, and actually leads to long term change for their picky eaters.
Michaelene S. Kearney OTR/L
Owner of Children In Motion
Imagine what it would feel like to sit down at the dinner table together and actually enjoy the meal.
No more repeating ‘eat your food’, or ‘use your utensils’, or ‘stay in your seat’ a million times.
Instead of being a short order cook stationed in the kitchen, you get to sit down at the table with everyone else and make memories with your family.
Photo by Alisa Golovinska
Our team is ready to help your family reconnect & thrive around mealtimes.
Photo by Daniel Dan
Reach out to us today to get started