The holiday season is filled with excitement, connection, joy, love, gifts, and some of the most delicious meals that we will eat all year long. For children with food preferences, sensitivities or aversions, though, this yummy food can be a bit scary and unappealing solely because it is new and different. The Place for Children with Autism, a program that offers services for children with autism, provides information, tips, tricks & resources for parents and/or caregivers of children with autism via their blog on their website. They posted an article titled, "Food Selectivity and the Holidays" to discuss the feelings and fears that children may have around meals at this time of year as well as how parents can best acknowledge them and respond to their child amidst the holiday chaos. The first thing that the authors of this particular blog post want parents to realize is that food selectivity is a common challenge for children with autism. The good news here is that you aren't alone in dealing with it; many parents or caregivers of children with autism face the challenge of mealtime with their child who is on the spectrum. Children with autism who experience food sensitiveness can be extremely particular about certain things and can appear hyper-focused or even stubborn when it comes to the foods they will try or pay any attention to. While this can be very frustrating to deal with, it is not an impossible feat in that you can help them overcome it in time. Selective eating in children with autism is often driven by their need and desire to have structured and familiar routines, which means that once they have found something they like, they are prone to wanting to stick with it. You can try to get ahead of food selectivity by offering your child a large selection of foods often when they are younger, so that they become familiar to trying and tasting many different things. However, if your child has already developed selective food habits, you can address food selectivity by: introducing a small portion of a new food at each meal, using positive reinforcement when a new food is accepted, and establish a structured meal schedule that allows time for them to be hungry in between meals, thus ensuring an appetite, and hopefully, a desire to try something new. Also, like any other change in schedule or new experience for a child with autism, what you do leading up to said event can be an absolute game changer. You can prepare for the holdays by: addressing food selectivity early, being mindful when planning the menu, and having backup options available. Talk to your child as the holiday gets closer and maybe include a new festive dish at some meals ahead of time. Discuss with your family members, if you are not the one hosting or cooking, what is on the menu and make suggestions for your child if necessary. If the prep work is not going quite as swimmingly as you might hope and you aren't one-hundred percent positive that a meltdown isn't going to happen, pack a few staples for your child, just in case; the most important thing is time together and with family, not the food that gets eaten. Hopefully, with a little understanding, preparation and flexibility, the holiday season and its meals will be pleasant experiences for both you and your child. You may even get lucky and unveil a new favorite food for your child!
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