My Child's Eating Problem
What exactly is your child's eating problem? The first step in developing an intervention for an eating problem, is identifying what the problem is. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What do I consider to be an eating problem?
- What is my child doing or not doing with his or her eating that I and the family would like to change?
- What changes would improve by my child's eating and our family's life?
Now that you've figured out what the problem is, or what you wish your child would do differently, it's time to ask yourself what you can change to improve mealtimes. Here are a few questions to ask yourself and other family members to help you develop an intervention:
- What foods does your child currently eat?
- How closely does your child's diet match the family's diet?
- How much is your child eating?
- What is your child's meal or snack schedule?
- What and how much is your child drinking throughout the day?
- Where does your child eat?
- How is the food presented?
- How does your child react to new foods?
- Does your child insist on specific dishes or utensils?
- How long is a typical meal?
- Does your child become upset and display problem behaviors at mealtimes? If yes, how do you and others react to it? What was going on at the time that the behavior occurred?
Once you've identified the eating problems that concern you, set one or two goals for the problem that you want to tackle first. Start by picking goals that:
- are related to an immediate health concern,
- need to be accomplished to achieve other goals,
- are a family priority,
- or you believe will be the easiest to achieve.
Now that you've picked your goal(s), it's time to develop an intervention to achieve them!
Source:
Williams, Keith E., and Richard M. Foxx. Treating Eating Problems of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities: Interventions for Professionals and Parents. PRO-ED, 2007.