Any parent understands that the struggles of a picky eater can be hard for the whole family.
Many may not be aware, but there’s a therapy that can help improve a child’s eating habits and their quality of life. Experts from Metro EHS, a pediatric neighborhood therapy company in Metro Detroit, stopped by “Live in the D,” to inform viewers about their “Feeding Therapy” program to let parents of picky eaters know they are not alone.
“One in 23 kids under the age of 5 actually have a pediatric feeding disorder,” said Sam Fitzsimmons, director of occupational therapy at Metro EHS.
She said 80% of children with developmental disabilities such as autism also have a feeding disorder. There are certain signs she and other experts said to look for in order to determine if a child has this disorder, such as meal time behavior that is disruptive, total or partial refusal of food, and an overall reduction in the foods they will eat.
Fitzsimmons said the feeding therapy they provide involves play. “We want to make food fun,” she said.
This can be done in different ways. Using food toys to show food is fun can be one. Others are also sensory play and touching edible items to get kids use to touching food. The goal is to eventually get children to put the food in their mouths.
To see the entire interview, click the video above.
Metro EHS provides this and other pediatric therapies and has 14 locations across Metro Detroit including, there more that are on the way. If you would like more information, visit their website here.