OT ideas

DS is 28 months old and has a SPD. He has severe feeding issues because of it. He also has a speech delay. He gets speech 3x a week now and OT 2x a week. The OT is working on his fine motor skills.

What can I do with him when he doesn't have OT? What are your kids doing? He has issues with the feeling of a lot of foods. We have a rice bin and we do playdoh already. I need some idea's to help him along...

Message edited 3/6/2012 8:46:03 PM.

Re: OT ideas

DS is 4.5 and it took 2.5 years to finally get him to tolerate foods on his plate that he didn't like.

he couldn't sit with us at the table with foods he didn't like.... thats how bad it was

we started small, very small.. we made sure to introduce something new once a week.. it would start out on the dinner table, and slowly we would push it closer to his table.

then we were able to get him to sit with us and tolerate it in front of him, then as he got older he would watch us prepare the food, and now he tolerates it on his plate, because he sees how its made. he will touch it, smell it and lick it.

he had a banana shake for the first time the other day. (what kid doesn't eat ice cream.. lol...)

it didn't happen over night, but it is happening, and very slowly, but he is getting the nutrition that he needs with the 6-10 things he eats plus vitamins.

dont rush it... 2.5 years is a long time, but its small steps... and another huge improvement was he ate ham & cheese on a cracker as a mini sandwich.

Re: OT ideas

Re: OT ideas

Hi from an OT mom
'would incorporate lots of food-related activities throughout the day.

-If you're doing "treasure hunt" in the rice bin, I suggest putting in different food toys in there (like cupcake erasers, plastic veggies) for you DS to look for

-Play with velcroed food; those fruits and veggies connected by velcro in the middle

-Play with stickers that have a food theme; draw a plate on paper and you can ask or guide your DS to stick various food stickers on the plate

-Use food scented markers and/or crayons; I've seen lots in toy stores (e.g. lemon scent, strawberry scent, etc.) when coloring pictures

-I'd actually make a journal or list of food that he will touch, will try to touch, will *not* touch for now; same with food he will eat, will attempt to eat but spit out, will *not* even try to eat, etc. It helps to have a running list of these things, help you categorize which ones he truly has difficulty tolerating, and the ones he can tolerate... help you see a pattern, etc.

-For the specific food he tolerates, I will slowly experiment (and use small amounts so as not to waste a whole bowl, for e.g.) -- if I can change temperature and he'll still eat it, or if I sprinkle a different texture and he'll try it, etc.

Have you read the Out of Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz? Also, there are more activities in the follow-up book, The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun. It's a good read. For now, these are what's on top of my head. FM me if you have other questions...

Re: OT ideas

DS is 2.5 as well. He hates sitting to eat and will live on the same diet every day if I let him.
No, he won't sit at the table with everyone either unless he's concentrating on a leap pad game, puzzle, coloring or TV. Anything to take his mind off of food
Oh, and as a PP said... he doesn't like ice cream either. Cookie bribes don't work.
He says no to everything.

Baby steps. I do get him to have steamed carrots in a soup once in a while. THat's only if I have bribes out like my Ipad or a show he really wants to watch.
I just pray he doesn't throw the food, which he's done b4 too
As for OT stuff... the playdoh, bubble wrap, stickers, hiding little things in rice and other things help.
I try and get DS to jump a lot when listening to music. He likes to march and play around so I get him to follow my command. Still won't jump totally or even off a book, but he'll do a hop.
The other posters have some good ideas as well that I'll also use
thanks all