Food Games

Food play is an important one, many children have sensory issues around food, so the more children play with food the better. Creating a sense of safety with food before it goes in their mouth so let them play with it first before they eat it. Our hands and mouth are connected. We explore with our hands first.

Food game 

Parent describing a food to a child and the child guessing what the food is. An example might be..this food has the same texture as chicken nuggets, describe the smell, is it crunchy or not, is it hard or soft.  Your child guesses as many times as the game allows and then swop, your child describes the food to you. As you describe the food to your child, they will be imagining it in their mouth.

Trust game with food

This is a blind fold game, so trust will be a factor in this one. Go gently with this one, be guided by your child.

Resources

A scarf for a blindfold

A plate of chosen food , food that has been selected by both you and your child.

The parent goes first, the parent is blindfolded and the child places a piece of food in the parents mouth, the parent has to guess what it is.

Then the parent places a small piece of food in the child’s mouth and the child has to guess what it is.

You can ask questions based on using your senses – what does it feel like in your mouth.

You can make your own rules to this one, as what each child and adult can tolerate will be individual, so go with what suits you. 

The clean up can be fun too, sharing the jobs of putting everything away and not being too rushed if possible.