You and your child can enjoy mealtimes again with the benefit of Feeding Therapy. We understand mealtimes can be one of the most stressful parts of the day when a feeding or eating difficulty is at play. With these difficulties, it goes beyond preferential or picky eating. Our feeding therapy helps both children and parents navigate and overcome the difficulties that can come with mealtimes.
What does feeding therapy focus on?
- Improving and strengthening the muscles of the face and mouth to safely and efficiently chew and swallow food and liquid.
- Assisting children having difficulties transitioning to different textured foods.
- Increasing your child’s food repertoire to include a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and starches.
- Intrinsically motivating children to eat and to enjoy mealtime.
- Reducing the stress of mealtimes for your child and for you.
How can feeding therapy help?
- Improve the function and strength of the muscles of the face and mouth for the safe management of food and liquid.
- Increase the amount of non-preferred foods your child consumes for a well-rounded diet.
- Assist in decreasing your child’s large, emotional responses to non-preferred foods.
- Increase in healthy weight gain.
What would my child do in a feeding group?
Your child will learn to explore unfamiliar and non-preferred foods in a safe, comfortable, fun group setting. We use peer motivation as a powerful tool to assist in interacting with and/or eating targeted foods. Your child will learn about different sensory and oral motor components of food in a fun, developmentally appropriate way: through play.
Why feeding groups at the Shandy Clinic?
We provide family-centered therapy. The feeding group therapy uses a sensory desensitization process following a feeding hierarchy. We also allow parent observation and provide parent education during feeding sessions.
The Shandy Clinic custom-tailors specific feeding treatment and recommendations to each individual family. We know feeding can be a huge cause of stress in the family. Through the Shandy Clinic, feeding therapy is a fun atmosphere for your child and yourself!
Who benefits?
You and your child benefit from consistent feeding and eating therapy!
Parents better understand what a feeding and eating difficulty is and why your child might be impacted. Parents are coached alongside their child during each session to learn how best to introduce new foods and how to decrease large emotional responses from non-preferred foods.
Children become intrinsically motivated to eat and/or interact with non-preferred or unfamiliar foods.