How: The feeding therapists will incorporate various sensory and oral motor activities into the session through a series of transitions from one activity to the next. The group setting and predictable routine gives the added benefit of learning through peer interaction. What to Expect: Your child should have fun! By creating a fun, relaxed atmosphere and interacting with children of similar ages, we hope to reduce anxieties your child may have with trying new or undesired foods thus increasing opportunities for food exploration and working toward expanding his/her diet! Some children may have appropriate oral motor skills needed for efficient feeding and some may need additional help. Basic chewing and oral preparation for safe and efficient swallowing will be targeted in each session. Parent/Caregiver Roles: Your participation is very important in your child’s progress. Parents will be encouraged to share their stories with each other during their child’s feeding session and will be provided with weekly material to discuss. Each week you will be given a “homework sheet” including a few weekly goals or activities based on your child’s level of involvement. For example, some children may experience such anxiety with eating that his goal may be as simple as allowing a food on his plate or table. Another child may be swallowing foods whole and need to develop appropriate chewing patterns. A wonderful opportunity for kids to learn about food and explore their senses through games, obstacle courses, sensory play, art, gardening and food creations with their peers. Activities include painting, digging in the soil and ending our time with a cooking activity including the food or herbs we planted during the camp time.
Evaluations are typically 1 to 1 ½ hours in length and include a thorough feeding observation and caregiver interview. Since many children are referred secondary to a refusal to eat there will be no pressure from the evaluator or caregiver to ‘make’ him eat, the Questionnaire and interview will provide a lot of the information that may be missed during an initial feeding observation. Questionnaires will be mailed out or emailed directly to the parents or caregivers prior to the evaluation so the responses can be studied thoroughly before the feeding observation. You may be asked additional questions based on your responses. The primary goal is to help identify the basis for your child’s feeding difficulties and to help create an individualized plan that will lead to age appropriate feeding skills and behaviors. If therapy is recommended, time and duration of weekly feeding sessions will be depending on your child’s needs. Therapies will be conducted in the home, day care, school or clinic environment. The therapist will work closely with the caregivers, pediatricians and other professionals who may be recommended to become part of an interdisciplinary team to best serve your child’s needs and facilitate maximum progress. We provide evaluation and treatment of disorders or delays in articulation and language development and evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disturbances. We provide flexible services in any location which may include home, daycare, school or our office. Since our goals are child and family focused, we make the effort to implement a program that is functional within a family’s daily routine and needs.Feeding Groups
Little Green Thumbs Sensory Feeding camps:
Feeding Evaluations and Treatment
Speech, Language & Feeding Evaluation and Treatment:
Therapy Environment
