Food Refusal

Children with special needs have issues with their sensory, and most parents and caregivers report that their child is a picky eater.

 

One of our priority is to keep the child healthy for them to be functional, and we highly recommend to parents and caregivers the importance of exposing the child to try foods that are not on the child’s preferred list.

 

In general, we want the children to be as exposed as possible to new experiences, including food.

 

It is okay for the child to not like a certain type of food, but it is important for them to at least try it.

 

If they don’t like it, they don’t have to eat it, but we want them to be exposed to as many types of foods as possible.

 

When exposing the child to new foods, it is indispensable to do so in a safe and controlled environment.

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We recommend that you start with small amounts of new foods and gradually increase the amount over time.

 

It is also essential to offer new foods along with familiar foods that the child likes. This will help make the experience less stressful for the child.

 

According to experts, researchers are yet to find the main reason on why children with special needs like autism spectrum disorder are picky eaters.

 

What we do know, though, is that picky eating can be very frustrating for both the child and the caregiver.

 

The good news is that there are things that can be done to help.

 

With a bit of patience and creativity, many families have been able to encourage their picky eaters to try new foods and develop a healthier relationship with food.

Signature practices

Our World at Skole curriculum includes preschool Signature Practices that offer hands-on approaches to encourage the skills your child will need in kindergarten and beyond: