What is Play-Based Feeding Therapy?
Play-based feeding therapy uses play as the primary tool to help children explore and feel comfortable with food. Instead of pressure at the dinner table, therapy sessions introduce food in a fun, safe, and engaging way.
Children might paint with purées, play smelling games, or build food trucks out of vegetables. These activities reduce anxiety, encourage sensory exploration, and gradually increase a child’s willingness to try new foods.
👉 Evidence shows repeated, low-pressure exposure to food through play helps reduce picky eating and food refusal (Carruth et al., 2004; Coulthard & Blissett, 2009).
Why Choose Play for Feeding Therapy?
Children learn best through play — it’s their natural language. For kids with sensory sensitivities or past negative experiences with food, mealtimes can feel overwhelming. But when food becomes part of play, it becomes approachable, safe, and even fun.
Play-based feeding therapy at Perth Speech Therapy Alfred Cove supports children with:
-
Picky eating and food refusal
-
Sensory food aversions (texture, smell, colour)
-
Oral-motor delays (chewing, swallowing, tongue movement)
-
Transitioning from tube/bottle feeding to solids
-
Mealtime anxiety and rigidity
What to Expect in a Session
Every child is different, but a session with our Alfred Cove speech pathologists might include:
-
🎨 Painting with Purées – yogurt or applesauce as “paint” for sensory exploration.
-
🧁 Cupcake Decorating – smashing, sprinkling, or licking for oral-motor practice.
-
👃 Food Smelling Games – fun, no-pressure exposure through scent.
-
🚗 Veggie Cars – turning cucumber slices into wheels for play-based discovery.
These approaches are based on Responsive Feeding Therapy (RFT), which emphasizes autonomy, curiosity, and trust (Rowell & McGlothlin, 2020).
Why Work With a Speech Pathologist?
Our speech pathologists in Alfred Cove bring unique expertise to feeding therapy. We look at how oral-motor skills, sensory comfort, and communication intersect at mealtimes.
We can:
-
Assess chewing, swallowing, and tongue movement
-
Identify sensory preferences and challenges
-
Collaborate with occupational therapists and dietitians
-
Set individual feeding goals
-
Use child-led, evidence-based strategies
Parent Involvement is Key
We guide caregivers on how to make food play part of everyday life. Instead of “just one bite,” we celebrate just one touch or sniff — because every step is progress.
👉 Research shows that parental modeling, positive reinforcement, and stress-free exposure are key to long-term feeding success (Black & Aboud, 2011).
Building Positive Mealtime Experiences for Life
The goal of play-based feeding therapy is not only to expand a child’s food variety but also to foster a healthy, confident relationship with food.
By reducing mealtime stress, families can build stronger dynamics and children can learn to enjoy eating without fear.
FAQ Section
1. What is play-based feeding therapy?
Play-based feeding therapy uses fun, low-pressure play to help children explore food. Instead of focusing on eating right away, children build trust and comfort through touching, smelling, and playing with food.
2. How does play-based feeding therapy help picky eaters?
Through activities like painting with purées or food smelling games, children become more comfortable with new foods. Research shows repeated, no-pressure play reduces picky eating and increases food acceptance.
3. What feeding challenges can speech pathologists help with?
Speech pathologists support children with picky eating, sensory food aversions, chewing or swallowing delays, and transitions to solids. They also help reduce mealtime stress and anxiety for families.
4. Will my child be pressured to eat during therapy?
No. Play-based feeding therapy is child-led and pressure-free, with progress starting from simple steps like touching or smelling food. Each small step is celebrated as progress.
5. What happens in a typical session?
Sessions may include painting with yogurt, decorating cupcakes, or building “veggie cars.” These playful activities reduce anxiety and encourage exploration in a safe, supportive environment.
6. Why are speech pathologists involved in feeding therapy?
Speech pathologists are trained in oral-motor skills, sensory processing, and communication. This expertise allows them to design tailored feeding plans that meet each child’s unique needs.
7. How are parents involved in play-based feeding therapy?
Parents are active partners in therapy and learn strategies to continue food play at home. Instead of “just one bite,” families celebrate small, positive interactions with food.
8. How long does it take to see results?
Every child is different, but many families notice reduced mealtime stress within weeks. Expanding food variety usually happens gradually with ongoing sessions.
9. Is play-based feeding therapy evidence-based?
Yes. Studies show sensory play and repeated, low-pressure food exposure improve acceptance of new foods and reduce picky eating in children.
10. Where is feeding therapy available in Perth?
Perth Speech Therapy offers play-based feeding therapy in Alfred Cove. We also support families in nearby suburbs including Applecross, Melville, and Myaree.
Feeding Therapy in Alfred Cove, Perth
If you’re worried about picky eating, food refusal, or mealtime stress, our team at Perth Speech Therapy Alfred Cove can help.
📍 Conveniently located for families in Alfred Cove, Applecross, Melville, and surrounding Perth suburbs.
📞 Contact Perth Speech Therapy today to book an appointment or feeding evaluation.
Let’s turn mealtime battles into mealtime wins — one playful bite at a time.