Dear parents with picky eaters...

Dear parents with picky eaters,

Are your mealtimes and/or is the presentation of new foods  a source of stress and anxiety in your house? If yes, it may be time to redefine how you think about the steps to eating.  For healthy/non-picky eaters “try it” (meaning take a bite, chew and swallow) may seem like a very small and easy step.  However, for children with feeding difficulties, this step may be too big and overwhelming. Children with feeding difficulties this may cause mealtime behaviors such as: 

• throwing foods 
• refusing foods 
• spitting foods out 
• gagging
• crying
• vomiting

Children who are picky eaters like to try foods at their own pace- and as the adults in their lives, we can learn to support them. 

Check out these feeding tips from Mealtime Notions LLC for ideas to explore new foods, textures and tastes with a new approach and less stress.  

http://mealtimenotions.com/cautious-eaters-everything-is-a-grasshopper/

http://mealtimenotions.com/cautious-eaters-re-define-try-it/

Talk to a Fiesta occupational therapist or speech therapist if you think your child has possible feeding difficulties!

April is Occupational Therapy Month!

April is national occupational therapy month - celebrating the profession of occupational therapy!   

Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are dynamic healthcare professionals seeking to assist individuals maximize their independence and performance in meaningful everyday activities. OTs work in a variety of settings such as outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Fiesta Pediatric Therapy Inc., is proud to staff five full time OTs. Pediatric occupational therapists, like those here at Fiesta, help children gain independence and promote development of fine, visual, and sensory motor skills. At Fiesta Pediatric Therapy, we focus on assisting children and their families to complete daily routines at their highest level of function and independence. Our therapists have diverse backgrounds of experience and strive to provide the highest quality and level of evidence-based practice. 

Occupational therapists have been featured in the media and ranked as one of the best healthcare jobs (U.S. News & World Report). It has also been ranked as one of the 10 most needed jobs in the future. 

Interested in becoming an occupational therapist? Visit the American Occupational Therapy Association for educational requirements and career information: http://www.aota.org/en/Education-Careers/Considering-OT-Career.aspx

For more information on occupational therapy services at Fiesta Pediatric Therapy Inc. please visit: http://fiestapediatrictherapy.net/ourprograms.html#occupationaltherapy