Sensory Integration Education

Eating at Christmas comes with a whole host of changes which someone with SI difficulties can find particularly challenging. There are different foods served at home; and shops and restaurants often alter their usual fare to Christmas special versions which can change the  taste, texture and smell and colour of food. Special meals are often served using different crockery and cutlery. And that’s without even considering Christmas crackers!

We asked for some top tips on managing food and eating at Christmas from Laura Osman, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Advanced SI Practitioner, Feeding Therapist and Teacher, and Louisa Hargett, Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, Advanced SI Practitioner, Feeding Therapist and Teacher. Laura and Louisa are trainers on our highly popular courses for all professionals supporting children with feeding difficulties. Laura and Louisa said:

• Ensure that preferred foods are available throughout the festive period alongside the festive specials.
• Involve the individual in shopping (online or in store) to identify any festival foods that they might want to try.
• Try to avoid labelling foods over the festive period as good / bad / naughty / healthy / unhealthy and avoid speaking about New Year diets!
• Have fun cooking and baking leading up to the festive period to familiarise yourself with different smells, tastes, textures associated with festive food with no pressure to eat. For children with severe and complex needs Laura has a blog article on Mince pies and other pastry. 
• Take food to other people's houses. This might be an individual lunch box of snacks / food to eat or take along a dish of a preferred food to share with others. 
• Take any adapted equipment you usually use that supports feeding. For example a particular plate, cutlery, cup or even chair. 
• Educate others about feeding challenges so that they don't comment on the amount or type of food that is being eaten or about body size and growth. 
• Eat before going to other people's houses if that is going to be a factor which prevents an individual from eating that day. 
• Acknowledge that sharing food at Christmas is just one way to celebrate and find other ways to celebrate too that will be meaningful for the individual. Is taking part in the meal essential or could they join in before or after?
• Engage in activities which are calming for the nervous system - can you take a walk or play in the park before the meal? 
• Consider the individual's sensory needs related to tactile and unfamiliar textures. Do they have to dress up in the itchy festive jumper or can you make sure that the clothes they are wearing are comfortable? Ensure that there is no pressure to try on new gifts or novelty items. 
• Communicate with the host and discuss if you can adapt the environment to ensure that it is low pressure. For example being mindful of the volume of the music and TV, opening windows to ventilate the space.
• Be mindful of the smells that are introduced to the environment, for example prolonged cooking smells / christmas candles / potpourri / flowers / cleaning products / perfumes / aftershaves and ventilate the area that you are eating in.  

And as for Christmas crackers? You can practise with some cheap or leftover ones and warn your child in advance about the noise and items that fall out. Or choose not to have crackers or only use them in a different area where they can’t be heard. Or make your own without any snaps. This is a good reminder that so many Christmas traditions are optional and can be changed to accommodate sensory needs: because it’s the people we care about who matter, not striving for the perfect day.

This was originally published as part of a larger article on Managing Christmas Sensory Challenges which includes advice on coping with all aspects of this busy, bright season.