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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
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Not sure where this belongs but...
HOW do i get my 4 year old to stop eating like a pig! It is bad! He is very bright, can use utensils with no problem but always eats with his fingers when left "on his own" (aka me not giving him a million reminders to use his fork.) Even when I remind him constantly to use his fork he has the fork in his hands and uses his fingers.
He has sensory issues and is also a very picky eater so he likes to pick apart his food and get the exact piece he wants. He is stilll in a bib at home and the table and floor are horrifying after he eats. Even my 2 year old is a million times neater and uses utensils. It is NOT gtting better, reward systems do not work, ahhhhh! It's also just not cool at a restaurant or at friends houses.
I seperate his food too so to reduce him picking out the parts he wants (ex. carb, protein, veggie all served seperately.) I have cool utensils too.
I am at a loss and it is so frustrating bc he can eat appropriately if he wants to.
Any tips/?
Message edited 4/25/2011 1:21:25 PM.
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Posted 4/25/11 11:40 AM  |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
I would go back to hand over hand until he gets it. I know...
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| Posted 4/25/11 12:06 PM |
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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
Posted by smdl
I would go back to hand over hand until he gets it. I know...
He'd freak if I try that plus I have to sit with Zach still (dh is at work.)
I'm talking he has NO problem eating meat, fish, SOUP, pasta, rice etc. with his hands!!! As my little guy says "Ewww gross, that's nasty!"
Message edited 4/25/2011 3:40:29 PM.
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| Posted 4/25/11 1:27 PM |
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sapphire
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/06 568 total posts
Name:
Elizabeth
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
Hmmm could you possibly reward your little one for eating correctly ? Make a behavior type chart for both, and have your older one see how well his younger brother is doing ? (getting rewards ?) I am not sure if this idea will help or make things worse lol
You may also want to try to serve as many "hand held" foods as much as possible (sandwiches, pizza, etc) so that then the "utensil" eating foods come out it's "special" and "rare", and maybe less in portion (soup, pasta) ???
The weight of the utensils may also play a role ? Maybe they are a bit "heavy" ? A lot of times sensory issues go hand in hand with low tone/strength. I actually think kids with low tone, or motor planning issues can be 'exhausted' by using utensils. It really does take a lot of steps/effort.
An OT my dd worked with had her use a "tool" to push in foam puzzle pieces. The tool was usually a plastic or wood peg. After my dd did an activity like that her "pressure" that she applies when eating or playing games improved greatly.
I think this is definitely something "OT" related.
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| Posted 4/25/11 2:08 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
I did not mean feeding him. But put your hand over his hand and show him how to eat. Reward with a reinforcer when he does good.
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| Posted 4/25/11 2:15 PM |
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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
Posted by sapphire
Hmmm could you possibly reward your little one for eating correctly ? Make a behavior type chart for both, and have your older one see how well his younger brother is doing ? (getting rewards ?) I am not sure if this idea will help or make things worse lol
You may also want to try to serve as many "hand held" foods as much as possible (sandwiches, pizza, etc) so that then the "utensil" eating foods come out it's "special" and "rare", and maybe less in portion (soup, pasta) ???
The weight of the utensils may also play a role ? Maybe they are a bit "heavy" ? A lot of times sensory issues go hand in hand with low tone/strength. I actually think kids with low tone, or motor planning issues can be 'exhausted' by using utensils. It really does take a lot of steps/effort.
An OT my dd worked with had her use a "tool" to push in foam puzzle pieces. The tool was usually a plastic or wood peg. After my dd did an activity like that her "pressure" that she applies when eating or playing games improved greatly.
I think this is definitely something "OT" related.
thanks for the ideas! yes we praise both for proper eating and try to get my ds to be the role model for my younger ds and all this works for a bit but then he reverts. nothing ever helps consistantly.
and u are right he has weak hands/low tone. but he's holding the fork in one hand and eating with the other. i've seen him eat many meals only using a utensil so i think it's more behavioral/pickiness. he used to eat properly when he was younger too.
that's a good cativity with the puzzle, i'll try that. he hates puzzles so this may spark more interest. his ot at school works on other hand strengthening games too. i was thinking about getting those kiddy chop sticks too.
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| Posted 4/25/11 2:57 PM |
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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
Posted by smdl
I did not mean feeding him. But put your hand over his hand and show him how to eat. Reward with a reinforcer when he does good.
thanks, no i understood what u ment but he HATES hand over hand. he has touch issues.
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| Posted 4/25/11 2:58 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
Posted by LoveBeingMrsT
Posted by smdl
I did not mean feeding him. But put your hand over his hand and show him how to eat. Reward with a reinforcer when he does good.
thanks, no i understood what u ment but he HATES hand over hand. he has touch issues.
OK.
Can he work with his OT?
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| Posted 4/25/11 3:08 PM |
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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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Re: Not sure where this belongs but...
Posted by smdl
Posted by LoveBeingMrsT
Posted by smdl
I did not mean feeding him. But put your hand over his hand and show him how to eat. Reward with a reinforcer when he does good.
thanks, no i understood what u ment but he HATES hand over hand. he has touch issues.
OK.
Can he work with his OT?
He only goes 1/2 days so it's not during a meal/snack time but they do work on many fine motor things that SHOULD be helping. I really think it's more behavioral and he is sooo stubburn that rewards don't usually work. I'm really at a loss. I hope it'll just get better with age. Thanks again!
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| Posted 4/25/11 3:44 PM |
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