The Importance of Food Play:
When people think of speech therapy, they often picture children learning how to say sounds or form words. But for many children—especially fussy or selective eaters—speech therapy looks a little different… and a lot messier!
At Perth Speech Therapy, we use food play as a powerful, evidence-based tool to support children facing feeding challenges. It’s not just fun—it’s therapeutic.
What Is Food Play?
Food play means engaging with food in a non-threatening, pressure-free way. This might include:
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Smelling, touching, and squishing foods
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Painting with yoghurt or mashed veggies
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Creating faces or scenes with different ingredients
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Helping mix, pour, or cook during meal prep
The golden rule? There’s no pressure to eat. Food play is about exploring and learning, not consuming.
Why We Use Food Play in Feeding Therapy
Fussy eating can stem from sensory sensitivities, oral-motor challenges, negative past experiences, or even anxiety. Food play gently supports children in the following ways:
1. Reduces Pressure & Builds Trust
Many children feel anxious around mealtimes. Food play removes the expectation to eat and builds a safe, positive association with food.
2. Encourages Sensory Exploration
Touching, smelling, and visually engaging with new foods helps desensitise children who are sensitive to textures, colours, or smells—step by step, without overwhelm.
3. Strengthens Oral-Motor Skills
Blowing, licking, chewing, and even straw play all help develop the muscles used for both eating and speaking. These skills are essential for speech clarity and feeding success.
4. Supports Language Development
Food play is a natural opportunity to build vocabulary (“squishy”, “smooth”, “crunchy”), follow instructions, and have conversations. It turns playtime into a rich language-learning moment.
5. Builds Positive Food Experiences
When food is fun, it’s no longer a fight. Children begin to approach mealtimes with curiosity instead of avoidance, setting the stage for long-term progress.
How Parents Can Encourage Food Play at Home
You don’t need to be a therapist to support your child! Here’s how to try food play at home:
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Invite your child to explore food with their senses—without asking them to taste it
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Get them involved in grocery shopping, cooking, or plating meals
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Create a weekly “food art” day to explore textures and colours
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Praise exploration:
“You touched the yoghurt with your finger—well done!”
Focus on interaction, not eating.
Ready for Support?
At Perth Speech Therapy, our speech pathologists are trained in feeding therapy and understand the unique needs of fussy eaters. Progress is possible—with patience, play, and the right strategies.