Skip to content
Kimberlilyonline

Kimberlilyonline

That's Fashion

Primary Menu Kimberlilyonline

Kimberlilyonline

  • Food and healthy
  • Chef Education
  • Food Delivery
  • Food Theory
  • Food Recipes
  • Food Journal
  • About Us
    • Advertise Here
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sitemap
  • Food Journal

Topeka’s Capper Foundation teaches kids not to fear food

Dian S. Hicks July 25, 2022

[ad_1]

Nolan Anderson, 5, smiles after making a perfect landing on a cushion while under the guidance of occupational therapist Amy Douglas Monday at the Capper Foundation. Nolan was warming up with other kids for the foundation's food school class.

Children who hesitate when it comes to eating are learning that food can be fun thanks to a series of classes at Topeka’s Capper Foundation.

First children get their bodies ready to learn by engaging in gross motor activities like climbing, swinging and balancing, said Lakyn Habinger, lead feeding therapist for the program.

“We then transition to hand-washing, bubbles at the table and setting the table (with plates and napkins),” she said. “Foods are then offered one at a time and are explored for a few minutes before moving on to the next food.”

Eating the food isn’t necessarily on the agenda.

“We do not put pressure on the kids to eat the foods,” said occupational therapist Amy Douglas. “We want them to get more and more comfortable with food in front of them, then touching it and eventually bringing it to their mouths without any stress.”

Children’s classes are built on a hierarchy of interaction

Nolan Anderson and another child get their hands messy with occupational therapist Amy Douglas and volunteer Mary Porter looking on.

The class measures success by a child’s ability to move up a six-step hierarchy developed by Kay Toomey, a pediatric psychologist who has worked for 25 years with children who have issues with eating.

The first step is tolerating the presence of foods in the room, in children’s spaces and on their plates. The second step is interacting with foods. Smelling foods is the third step, and touching foods is the fourth.

Then comes tasting, the fifth step. The sixth step is eating.

Habinger presents the foods as a form of play. 

“For example, when I present scrambled eggs, they are not just scrambled eggs. We transform them into monkeys jumping on the bed,” she said. “We sing the song while we interact with the food in different ways.

“I will direct the play based on the level of a child’s readiness. Some kids are only ready to touch the food with their finger, some can touch it to their lips, and some are ready to eat.”

Children with pediatric feeding disorders can have great anxiety when it comes to seeing, touching or eating food. Appetites can become nonexistent in response.

“Therefore, in order for the children to learn about and accept new foods, we must create a playful and joyful experience,” she said.

Parents have their own classes in a separate room

Linda Burgen, a board-certified behavioral analyst, is in charge of helping parents in a separate room.

“This program is valuable and supportive to families as well as their children,” Burgen said.  “We all learn from the experiences of others. We want to help build the child’s ‘can do’ attitude as well as help families enjoy their interactions with their child.”

Amanda Anderson is taking the classes along with her 5-year-old son Nolan Anderson, who has Down syndrome. Nolan has a twin sister Gabby.

Nolan has had to play catch-up since his feeding tube was taken out in November 2021.

Currently on pureed foods, Nolan has a healthy appetite and enjoys bold flavors like garlic and Mexican food that her husband Justin Anderson is fond of preparing. The food just ends up in the blender before making it to his plate.

Nolan Anderson’s next obstacle is eating solids, and Burgen is helping the family create an environment for that to happen.

“She basically teaches us different ways to approach giving your children different foods, that a lot of it needs to be play,” said Amanda Anderson. “She will tell you to take a cheese puff and use it as a caterpillar, and bounce it on your arm, or swinging a spaghetti noodle around. We do that a lot.”

Amanda Anderson said she also learned about food portion sizes.

“So Nolan is 5. He would get five tablespoons of chicken or five tablespoons of carrots,” she said. “That’s something that I did not know. Another thing they tell you is they really want you to be at a table setting with your family.

“So him watching his sister, I think, helped tremendously.”

The Anderson family is looking toward a bright future

Nolan Anderson and another child play with bubbles as volunteer Mary Porter watches with a smile.

Gabby attends some of the therapy sessions with her brother and parents.

“So she will try to do those things at home based off what she sees us do at therapy,” Amanda Anderson said.

And Gabby then told her mother, “When I grow up, I want to work in the hospital, so I can take care of kids like Nolan,” Amanda Anderson said. “It just melted my heart.”

Amanda Anderson’s daughter Ciana, who will turn 14 on Monday, also wants to pursue a career helping children like her brother.

“She wants to work in the NICU based on all that sprung on her when she was in fourth grade, and Nolan came along,” Amanda Anderson said.

She sees a bright future for her son, who she described as outgoing, lovable, stubborn and ornery, with a smile that “lights up a room.”

“I believe that he will at some point live on his own, hold a job and do everything that we do,” she said. “It just takes a little bit longer, but I think that he will eventually get there.”

Kids with special needs have a resource in Capper’s

Amanda Anderson advised parents of children with special needs not to give up if faced with her situation.

“There are resources out there, such as Capper, that will help you to learn those day-to-day activities that they need to do,” she said.

Douglas, the occupational therapist, said when a child begins to eat, or adds a new food to
their diet, it is a huge deal.

“It is important from a nutrition standpoint but also for sensory integration,” she said. “Typically, if a child eats one crunchy food, for example, you can begin to introduce more similar foods slowly. The parents get very excited as well, which is rewarding.”

Amanda Anderson said she is grateful for the program.

“I would just definitely say, if you have a child that is struggling with any type of eating disorder, definitely reach out to them,” she said. “So far, the program has been great. I learned a lot and that food play is good.”

Catheryn Hrenchir is a feature writer for The Topeka-Capital Journal. She can be reached at [email protected] or (785) 817-6383.

[ad_2]

Source link

Tags: Food Games, Food Gift Baskets, Food Grade Mineral Oil, Food Hall, Food Handlers, Food Handlers Card, Food Handlers Permit, Food High In Fiber, Food High In Iron, Food High In Potassium, Food High In Protein, Food Ideas, Food In Spanish, Food Inc, Food Insecurity, Food Insecurity Definition, Food Intolerance, Food Intolerance Test, Food Italy Is Famous For, Food Jobs, Food Jokes, Food Journal, Food Journal App, Food Journal Template, Food Justice, G Food Items, G Food Mart, G Food Mart Deli, G Food Names, G Food Near Me, G Food Store, G Food Truck, G Foods, H Food Express, H Food Logo, H Food Market, H Food Mart, H Food Mart Upland Ca, H Food Share Price, H Foods, H Foods Words, I Food Deli, I Food Items, I Food Near Me, I Food Real, I Food Real White Chicken Chili, I Foods, I Foods Names, I Foods Words

Continue Reading

Previous Haymaker’s Punch Recipe (Switchel) – Nourished Kitchen
Next Alabama Fire Crackers – Spicy Southern Kitchen

More Stories

  • Food Journal

What is Tex-Mex Food

Dian S. Hicks September 16, 2023 0
  • Food Journal

8 Top Low-Calorie Indian Foods

Dian S. Hicks September 13, 2023 0
  • Food Journal

Qualities of Appetizers

Dian S. Hicks September 8, 2023 0
September 2023
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
« Aug    

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Matcha Green Tea and Resveratrol
  • Filipino Recipes – Ginataang Suso – Pinoy Food
  • Do Your BBQ Right With A Cuisinart BBQ Grill
  • Sun Dog Diner Review – Neptune Beach, Florida
  • What’s So Good About the Weber Q140 Electric Grill?
Intellifluence Trusted Blogger

BL

Tags

A Food Affair A Foodborne Illness Is A Disease That A Foodborne Illness Is A Disease Transmitted A Foodborne Illness Outbreak Occurs When A Food Chain A Food Italy Is Famous For A Foods A Food Web B Food Dishes B Food Grade B Food Items B Food Logo B Food Names B Food Near Me B Food Rating B Food Science Co. Ltd C Food Crush C Food Names C Food Rapper C Food Shack Food Addiction Food Allergy Food Allergy Symptoms Food Allergy Testing Food And Drug Administration Food And Wine Food Around Me Food Aversion Food Bank Food Bank Of The Rockies Food Banks Near Me Food Baskets Food Bazaar Food Chain Food Chain Definition Food City Food City Ad Food City Near Me Food City Weekly Ad Food Coloring Food Court Food Delivery Near Me Food Lion Food Lion Near Me Food Near Me

getlinko

Related Article

  • Food Theory

Matcha Green Tea and Resveratrol

Dian S. Hicks September 27, 2023 0
  • Food Recipes

Filipino Recipes – Ginataang Suso – Pinoy Food

Dian S. Hicks September 27, 2023 0
  • Chef Education

Do Your BBQ Right With A Cuisinart BBQ Grill

Dian S. Hicks September 25, 2023 0
  • Food Recipes

Sun Dog Diner Review – Neptune Beach, Florida

Dian S. Hicks September 24, 2023 0
  • Chef Education

What’s So Good About the Weber Q140 Electric Grill?

Dian S. Hicks September 24, 2023 0
kimberlilyonline.com | CoverNews by AF themes.

WhatsApp us