Cross Country Education presents
 

Mealtime Success for Kids on the Spectrum: Integrative Nutrition for Picky Eaters Seminar

Outline the typical development of eating skills, medically recognized nutritional needs of the growing child and sensory-based approaches to mealtime behavioral issues within an integrative nutrition framework focusing on sources of nourishment.

Course Description/Agenda

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders have difficulties during mealtimes for a variety of reasons. Poor muscle control affects lips, tongue, jaw, facial muscles, hands and core body movements—all of which impact our ability to move food into the digestive system. Sensory processing problems produce aversions or obsessions with specific smells, textures and tastes that compromise good nutrition—which in turn increases hunger and food cravings. Mealtimes nourish our souls as much as our bodies, through the sharing of conversation and social relationships. Instead of a time for enjoyment, mealtimes often become battlegrounds—nourishing no one.

This course will outline typical development of eating skills, medically recognized nutritional needs of the growing child and sensory-based approaches to mealtime behavioral issues—within the context of an integrative nutrition framework that focuses on primary as well as secondary sources of nourishment. We will explore a variety of techniques that encourage children to participate happily in their family or school mealtimes. Integrative nutrition synthesizes our needs for primary sources of nourishment—loving relationships, enjoyable physical activity, meaningful work and spiritual connectedness—with our physiologic needs to eat a healthy diet. Successful mealtime programs must address a child's need for compassionate caregivers, active play, self-care and the use of their imagination. This course gives therapists the basic tools to create such a program.

• Summarize typical development of oral-motor and hand to mouth skills related to good nutrition
• Recognize common behaviors associated with sensory aversions and cravings that can affect mealtimes
• Integrate social and emotional needs with nutritional needs for mealtimes to promote healthy development
• Identify possible food reactions, allergies and digestion issues that may affect mealtime success
• Generate a variety of techniques that encourage children to explore and appreciate new foods
• Recall typical developmental milestones of growth associated with mealtimes
• Identify sensory modalities that encourage children to explore and appreciate new foods
• Design interventions that incorporate children's primary needs for play and wholesome foods as important aspects of healthy development
• Generate strategies (including shopping and cooking) that make it possible for families to regain mealtimes as a source for pleasure and nutrition

What You'll Learn

What People Are Saying About the Class

"Susan immediately 'pushed in' and got her hands 'dirty.' I learned a lot watching her therapeutically feed my students. She introduced me to websites of interest and let me borrow personal videos about feeding. She was always ready to help regardless of what I asked—from feeding to positioning, to going on a trip, to trying to calm a crying child." - Lois Katz, special education teacher, Queens, NY

"I have watched Susan work as an occupational therapist in the classroom, and I have seen how physically gentle and firm, soft-spoken and fully present she is with children, regardless of their disabilities or level of energy, and how she teaches them the skills, however elementary, that they need to learn." - Steve Cox, parent and author, Tucson, AZ

"As an OT, the impact of social/emotional needs on mealtimes and meeting these needs using the DIR [Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based] model was an important insight. Also, the inclusion of the Eating Evaluation is beneficial to assessing the child's abilities/needs in a format that can also communicate information to parents/caregivers and other professionals working with the child." - Occupational Therapist attending a workshop in Long Island City, NY

More Seminar Information

Cross Country Education Course Summary Outline the typical development of eating skills, medically recognized nutritional needs of the growing child and sensory-based approaches to mealtime behavioral issues within an integrative nutrition framework focusing on sources of nourishment. Delivery Method  Seminar Also Available As  On-Site Training Who Should Attend Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists , Physical Therapist Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologists, Counselors , Psychologists, Case Managers , Educators , Social Workers, Nurses , Physicians, Dietitians

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