Dinner Winner!
Do you dread meal time? If so, you are not alone. Many parents struggle at meal times for different reasons. Some children simply do not want to sit to eat, they rather play. Some children have a difficult time trying new foods or have other sensory issues that makes meal time no fun for them. Parents see non-compliance with coming to the table, staying at the table, taking bites. They see tantruming, throwing, etc. Name it, some parent has seen it. I have seen it (with clients and my own child).
So what can you do? I encourage you to try the dinner winner plate! It is a super cute plate that comes in a variety of designs that encourages eating. Children learn and do best by having fun. So make mealtime fun. I have heard parents say “Well, they can’t always have fun at the table, they need to learn to just sit and eat, they can’t use these things when they are teenagers, etc.” I hear you, and I agree to an extent. That is the end goal but you will never reach that goal if you don’t start somewhere.
We started using the plate every night. Once our daughter started doing good with eating, we did it every other night, then eventually to weekends. We don’t use it at all anymore! The great thing, is you get to customize how you want to do by what’s best for YOUR child. There is no “you have to do it this way”.
So how does it work? As you can see in the picture, there is a little trail that leads to a “hidden treasure” . In each part of the trail you put food in it. You can put a lot of food or a little bit of food. Once they eat all of the food in their trail, they get to uncover their treasure. This is whatever is reinforcing to you child. It could be a piece of candy, a note saying Ipad time, toy, etc. Below is an example.
Make sure you make this fun for them! Tell them they are going on adventure and have to get to the treasure. Make it a race! Imagine and do it! One thing, I do advise is to set a timer for 30 minutes. Encourage them to be done before that timer goes off if they are a slow eater.
Example: New food (carrots)
In the first slot, put a highly preferred food. In the next slot put only 1 bite of a carrot. Keep this pattern up until they get to the prize. The next night do the same thing, but increase the carrot intake to maybe 2 or more bites. Whatever the new food is, present it for a few days. If they honestly don’t like it, that’s okay. We all have food we don’t like. But at least they are trying it!
How can ABA help?
Starting this process can be difficult. We can be here to start the process with you and guide you each step of the way. We also work in the community so that eating is generalized to more than just the clinic or dinner table, making more natural for your child.
Questions? Feel free to email us!
