04/09/2024
Bear with me as this caption is long.. I got fired up!
If our expectations are too high and/or rooted in ableist beliefs, then changing these beliefs is something you can do RIGHT NOW to improve mealtimes at home.
Even if you are consistently offering new foods and are removing pressure at the table, if our mealtime expectations are unrealistic for our neurodivergent or complex sensory kids then we need to change our OWN expectations to better meet THEIR sensory needs and create a feeling of safety at mealtimes.
This might look like:
*Offering meals in a different location – Instead of having to sit at a table, trying offering meals on the floor, outside, or standing at the counter. A new location with less people, decreased sensory input, and the possibility to move around while eating may be the switch your child needs to feel more comfortable in their own body and in turn around food.
*Sitting isn’t for everyone – Yes 90-90-90 is ideal for SOME wiggly kids who need postural support, but not everyone who is wiggling needs help to sit still. Sometimes kneeling in the chair or standing at the counter can provide more input. Other times, kids may need to sit in a bean bag chair or take breaks on the trampoline between bites to keep the right level of regulation and awareness for their body.
*Limiting safe foods – We may have grown up with needing to eat the “healthy” foods before we got dessert or more of a preferred food BUT this can lead to a lot of anxiety for our restrictive and picky eaters. Oftentimes, if we change our expectations and don’t limit the amount of a preferred food that is accessible, then that food doesn’t become viewed as the most important part of the meal and it creates a safe space to be open to trying some other food too.
