Feeding Therapy For Children
At The Kids Place we recognise that picky or restrictive eating affects not just the child but the whole family. Our Occupational Therapists offer a Feeding Therapy Program to support your child to overcome eating challenges and become more confident in trying new foods. Using an individualised sensory-based approach, we help children explore, interact with, and eventually eat new foods in a fun, pressure-free environment.
Why is my child a picky eater?
Many children go through phases of food preference, but for some children, eating challenges are more persistent and more distressing. Picky or restrictive eating can have a sensory basis. The texture, smell, appearance or temperature of food can feel genuinely overwhelming to a child who processes sensory information differently.
Your child may be finding certain foods genuinely difficult to tolerate, and that difficulty requires a sensitive and intentional approach for making meaningful progress.
At The Kids Place
We offer support for the child and the family / whanau in the following ways.
- An initial parent/caregiver meeting to gather information, understand the challenges your child is experiencing, and develop realistic goals for therapy.
- A structured, supportive approach - working with you and your child to explore why eating is difficult and to build confidence and skill over time.
- A focus on creating positive experiences with food. We use sensory-based, low-demand, child-led play to gently reduce anxiety around mealtimes, starting with interaction and exploration of food rather than any pressure to eat.
- Practical carry-over support for home. After each session we will provide feedback and recommendations for activities to work on during the week, because progress made in therapy is most effective when it is reinforced in everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is feeding therapy?
Feeding therapy is a programme delivered by occupational therapists to support children who are experiencing difficulties with eating. Whether that is a very limited range of accepted foods, strong reactions to certain textures or smells, anxiety around mealtimes, or reluctance to try new foods. At The Kids Place, our feeding therapy uses a sensory-based, child-led approach to help children gradually build confidence and expand what they are comfortable eating.
How do I know if my child needs feeding therapy?
If your child's eating is causing significant stress at mealtimes. If they have a very restricted range of foods, they will accept. If attempts to introduce new foods regularly result in distress. For any of these scenarios, it may be worth speaking with an occupational therapist. You do not need a referral to contact us.
What age is feeding therapy suitable for?
Our therapists are experienced with a wide variety of ages, from two years to their teenage years. Our therapists adapt feeding interventions to ensure feeding programmes are developmentally and age appropriate.
Do you use a specific approach or programme for feeding therapy?
Therapists have a wide range of tools and evidence-based strategies for guiding therapy. Each of our therapists brings a unique skill set to the team. Some have training in SOS Approach to Feeding, Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) among other seminars, courses, and certifications. All of our therapists utilise research-backed approaches to ensure ethical interventions that promote progress. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any inquiries regarding specific frameworks or approaches utilised by our team.
Is feeding therapy the same as treatment for an eating disorder?
No. Our Feeding Therapy Program is designed for children with picky or restrictive eating that has a sensory or developmental basis. It is not designed as a treatment for eating disorders. If you have concerns about your child's eating that go beyond food selectivity, please speak with your GP or a relevant specialist.
How long does the programme run?
Each child's needs are unique and the feeding programmes reflect this. Feeding therapy is an ongoing, open-ended programme that is reviewed regularly between the family and the therapist. Some children may benefit from 10 sessions. Others may benefit from ongoing feeding intervention across multiple terms to support expanding food repertoire. Transparency, communication and carryover between provider and family are essential for setting realistic and clear goals for feeding therapy.
Get In Touch With Us
If you are concerned about your child's eating and would like to find out more about our Feeding Therapy Program, we would love to hear from you.
Contact The Kids Place today and one of our team will be in touch within 48 hours.