Special Feeding Therapy Edition

We had a request from one of our families if we could dedicate some information for parents to help with feeding. Of course we can!

Mealtime can be tricky at any age, and it is completely normal for a child, especially a toddler to reject food and say, "no!" while they are developing their independence and express their preferences, especially when it comes to food.  

Food exploration can be one of the most powerful tools in sensory feeding therapy! We’ve all heard the phrase, “Don’t play with your food!” — but in feeding therapy, playful interaction with food is often exactly what helps children become more comfortable trying new things.

Many children who are selective eaters or sensory-averse to certain foods may first need to learn that a food is safe before they are willing to taste it. That’s where food exploration activities come in. Parents can encourage curiosity by turning foods into fun, low-pressure sensory experiences. Try a “mystery food” guessing game using a blindfold or covering foods with a napkin as an extra guessing game element, while your child explores the food item through touch, smell, and eventually taste. Ask questions or describe the sensations with your child: Is it smooth or bumpy? Crunchy or soft? Sweet or sour?  Really explore the food items with your senses. Feel the food whole, warm, cold, cut up, mushed and mashed, exhaust all the ways to explore it to get as comfortable with the food as possible. Encourage a taste (a lick) before ever trying to move into biting, chewing and swallowing a traditional taste. It's all about moving slow, getting comfortable, and building that rapport with the food. We encourage you to have your own plate and explore all the elements of the food item with your child, even allowing your child to feed you some of the food can be helpful to build familiarity with the food item. 

The goal is not immediate eating, but building positive experiences, reducing anxiety around unfamiliar foods, and helping children gradually tolerate new textures, smells, and tastes. Small steps and repeated exposure can make a big difference over time!

If you are interested in feeding services or looking for a feeding evaluation, reach out to Nikka in Scheduling for more information. 
Nikka@LanguageEssentials.net or call the office at 925-743-3322

Creating a positive, low-pressure environment around food can make a big difference for children with sensory feeding challenges. The words and tone we use during mealtimes matter!

Try using supportive phrases like:

“I hear you want *insert preferred food*. We’re not having it right now, but we can have it another time.”

This helps children feel heard while building trust and predictability around meals.

Another helpful reminder:

“You don’t have to eat it.”

Removing pressure can reduce anxiety and help children feel more comfortable exploring new foods at their own pace. In feeding therapy, progress doesn’t always start with tasting — touching, smelling, helping prepare, or simply allowing a new food on the plate are all important steps!

Extra Tips:

Helping with meals increases exposure to foods in a fun, low-stress way while giving children a sense of independence and involvement. This also extends to helping make the meal when possible.

Mixing foods: If your child loves macaroni and cheese but avoids chicken or vegetables for example, try mixing very small amounts of the new food into a preferred food to gradually increase familiarity.

Remember — small, positive experiences with food over time can lead to big progress!

June means summer break and vacations, remember to update us on travel plans to avoid no-show fees and schedule make-ups :

We kindly remind families that our enrollment policies require a 4-week notice for pausing or discontinuing services due to extended vacations, leave of absence, school breaks, or schedule changes. If you are making any scheduling adjustments or planning vacations, please contact Nikka or call the office so we can assist with scheduling and availability.

Beginning June 1st! Our Occupational Therapist, Ms. Casey, will be visiting speech therapy sessions in our San Ramon office for observation opportunities.

This collaboration allows our Speech and OT teams to work together to better support our clients and identify children who may benefit from additional OT insight or services.

Days to Celebrate in June:
• June 5th National Donut Day
• June 8th World Oceans Day
• June 14th Flag Day
• June 18th International Picnic Day
• June 19th Juneteenth 
• June 21st Father's Day & Summer Solstice

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✨We wanted to congratulate our amazing Scheduler Nikka on her recent engagement!  💍✨

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Language Essentials | 210 Porter STE 120, San Ramon, CA 94583