05/06/2025
Do you know a child that struggles with executive functioning skills, and feeding concerns (textures, moving food in the mouth, etc.)
If a child has executive functioning challenges, they may struggle to adapt to feeding routines, persist with new food trials, or control behaviors during mealtimes.
To start, here's a great resource if you have ever experienced kids that have feeding preferences. It can be a concern to figure out if feeding issues are related to sensory preferences or oral motor issues. We discuss this here>> https://www.theottoolbox.com/oral-motor-problems-and-feeding/
And, because this is an executive functioning page, we need to connect the dots to executive functioning issues that impact feeding skills. We know that executive functioning is the brain’s “management” skills, which are used to plan, organize, regulate, and adapt behavior.
And, we know that feeding skills and abilities requires many of these:
⏰Attention and focus to stay at the table
🍗Inhibition to avoid impulsive behaviors like throwing food
🥄Working memory to follow mealtime steps or utensil use
🧐Cognitive flexibility to try new foods or switch routines
🗯Self-regulation to manage frustration or sensory discomfort
Basically, feeding is a complex task that relies on:
✅Motor skills to physically eat
✅Sensory processing to tolerate textures, smells, and tastes
✅Executive function to plan, organize, and stay regulated during meals
Here are some feeding skills by developmental progression, for reference: https://www.theottoolbox.com/development-of-oral-motor-skills
