Sensory Play Ideas for Summer!

 

With each new season comes unique opportunities for sensory play.  At the start of each season I kind of have a mental bucket list of all the fun sensory things I want to expose the kids to (remember my fall sensory post?) Obviously, because of the warm temperatures summer offers, my bucket list can get pretty long! 

Sensory play is so important because it helps kids learn about their environment and their own bodies. There is all kinds of neurological development going on when they interact with different textures or move their bodies in new ways.  We also know that sensory play can ultimately induce more relaxation and improved attention because their little bodies (in most cases) are getting their needs met. If you are looking for some more details on sensory play and development, check out Sensory Basics here.

Most of you probably already know some simple sensory play ideas for summer between sandboxes, swimming pools, and playgrounds (all of which give loads of sensory input). But, don't stop there. Think nature hikes, finger painting, or body painting in bathing suits, you can literally hose them down!

Rachel from Babysitting gets even more creative with these next three suggestions in her guest post here today.  I love all these ideas and they are definitely now on my summer bucket list (I guess I should actually write the list down), I can't wait for the kids to try them out!

Let us know what your favorite sensory play idea is for summer so we can keep those bucket lists growing!  Without further adieu, I will hand it over to Rachel...

When summer time rolls around it is a great opportunity to get your kids outdoors and into the sunshine. Sensory play does not have to be limited to indoor activities either. Here are a few ideas for great sensory play outdoors in the warmth of summer.

Ice dig 

1. Help your child explore their inner archaeologist! Get a large plastic bin and fill it with water. You can dye the water if you would like but I find it a bit messy. Drop in a few small plastic figurines like dinosaurs, farm animals or even army men. Let it freeze completely and then dump the large ice cube outside. Hand the kids spoons or other kid-friendly digging tools and let them go to work uncovering the hidden treasures. For the widest spread of toys to dig up try to add toys as the ice freezes so the entire block has something to uncover. Kids love to watch the ice melt under the hot sun and it is a great way to keep them cool. Keeping it Beautiful did an ice dig, check it out here.

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   Giant Sensory Bag

   
   
2. I ran across this clever idea this winter and I can’t wait to try it out with my kids! We all remember Slip and Slides from our childhood, but this creative idea combines that with sensory bags. All you need is a plastic tarp and duct tape. You can create any size bag you want, but a 10 by 10 square is usually about right. Simply tape the edges of the tarp together well, leaving a small hole to fill the bag with water. You can also add soft toys, balls, leaves, foam cutouts and anything soft without sharp corners. Fill the bag with water and seal the opening with tape. Make sure the bag is filled and sitting on a flat surface so the water distributes evenly. It is also best to get the bag full before letting the kids play on it to avoid rips and tears. You can double the tarp to create a thick and long-lasting bag. Spray with water for a slippery effect or just let the kids play cool and dry on water! You can check one out at Momma's Fun World.

   
   

   

   
   

   Water park

   
   

   3. If you have a little talent with a drill then you can make your kids their very own water park. Plastic piping and water hoses are all you need for this sensory activity. After all, what kid doesn't like to play in the sprinkler? Make a ‘car wash’ with an arch of plastic piping with holes drilled in it. Kids can drive their Big Wheels through for a cool shower. Punch holes in a two liter soda bottle and attach the hose for a homemade random sprinkler. Make your own Slip and Slide with wet tarp or turn the slide you already have into a water slide. Use kiddie pools as splash zones to avoid mud puddles. There are tons of ways to turn your backyard into a water park! If you want the specifics check out 2 Little Superheros.
   

   
   

These are just a few of the fun ideas you can do with your kids to stay cool this summer with sensory activities. From digging to splashing water, these are great sensory tools in your arsenal. Have fun, apply the sunscreen and get wet!

Rachel is an ex-babysitting pro as well as a professional writer and blogger. She is a graduate from Iowa State University and currently writes for www.babysitting.net. She welcomes questions/comments which can be sent to rachelthomas.author @ gmail.com.

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Common Mistakes Parents Make: How to Start Good Eating Habits

For many parents feeding their kids is a bit overwhelming, especially in the beginning.  It's really straight forward when they are babies, right?  Milk, then baby food.  Simple. Things start to get a little tricky when real food is introduced and the bottles and baby food are weened away.  Those babes turn into toddlers and the eating transition can be challenging.  I'm not just talking about how to get them to start eating table foods, I've already covered that in another post (How to Transition Your Baby to Table Food).  It's all the other things that come along with this transition like when, what, and where to feed them.... when and how do they feed themselves... how long should they sit in a high chair... etc.  Okay, if you weren't overwhelmed already, I am probably overwhelming you now!  Obviously, I am going to walk you through the most common mistakes parents seem to make and how you can avoid them to get your kid's eating started with a good foundation.  They are mostly simple things that the Pediatrician doesn't have time to tell you or may not even know.  

Staying on Baby Food Too Long

Going to get this one out of the way first. Generally speaking babies should be starting to eat table foods around 8-9 months and should be done eating baby food by their first birthday. Of course there are exceptions to this, especially if your child has developmental delays.  Each child is an individual and I do want you to follow their lead, BUT often I see parents sticking with baby food way too long because it is easier or THEY are uncomfortable exposing their child to more table foods.  You may think, where is the harm in it? Although most kids will move onto table foods fairly easily, some can get stuck in a rut and refuse table foods if they are kept on baby food for too long.  If you need more help with this transition check out part one and two of How to Transition Your Baby to Table Food.  

Abandoning the High Chair

I know the big high chairs can be cumbersome in kitchens and the trays are annoying to keep cleaning, but these seats and their ability to confine, ahem, I mean keep you child safe are the best bet for a while.  Babies have learned to associate eating with this chair and toddlers are notoriously distracted.  If you try to have them eat at their own little table or at a big table before the age of 2.5 you are most likely going to be in a constant struggle just to keep them sitting at the table and their eating habits will surely suffer.  There is nothing wrong with keeping your kid in a high chair or booster seat with a strap until they are 3.  If you never stray from this they won't ever know the difference, sitting in a high chair or booster is all they have ever know.  Once you let them kneel on a big chair or don't strap them into the booster, it could be very difficult to return to the original set up.

Once you do move to strap-free eating situation, lay the ground rules quickly about staying seated. If you child insists on getting down, meal time is over for them. Make sure they understand this and follow through. Click here for more info on setting up a schedule and spacing meals apart.

Constant Snacking

I have to admit, this is probably my biggest pet peeve and the most prevalent error parents make. (Warning: stepping onto my soap box)  Somehow our culture has evolved to constantly feeding our kids, most of the time we do this to pacify them. We hand them crackers or cookies in grocery stores, doctors offices, cars, parties, and even church to keep them quiet.  It doesn't always stop there, in the beginning it can be hard to find a schedule for eating that works and leaving food out all the time can seem logical, or meal times become stressful and schedules are abandoned because it seems easier.  It may be easier in the short term, but in the long run it will become more difficult to get good eating habits established. When kids are given snacks endlessly, the message sent is that we don't need to sit and eat together (yes, even if it is just a snack) and that we can eat whenever we want.  I think it is important to teach kids to respect meal time in its own right so they can develop healthy eating habits for life.  Constant snacking totally defeats this, and as I have discussed previously, snacking usually ruins their appetite.  

In my day job (as an occupational therapist), I see huge changes in a child's eating when the family moves to structured, spaced out meals. At home, I also see a dramatic difference in my kid's eating when they have snacked too frequently.  

Toys at the Table

No toys at the table might seem obvious to some of you, especially parents with babies that aren't really trying to pull this stunt yet. I assure you there will be a day when your toddler is insistent and will ultimately throw a tantrum just to have the truck or doll at the table with them.  In the moment, it is very easy to give in because you are exhausted and don't have the battle in you.  However, this is a battle worth fighting, even though that toy may be keeping them in their chair it will mostly distract them from actually eating. Sometimes it helps to place the toy in a spot where a child can see it (sometimes that makes it worse!). Either way, once your kiddo knows that you mean business about no toys coming to the table, they will stop trying.  

*If your child is receiving feeding therapy, some therapeutic strategies employ the use of toys at meals.

Eating Alone

Eat with your kids, often when we start babes out on baby food they are on their own schedule and we focus just on feeding them at their own meal time.  This should be short lived, if ever a scenario at all.  If possible it is a great habit and benefit to the baby to eat meals together.  As they start to eat multiple times a day and begin table foods, try to find a way to have your eating schedules coincide.  Serving your kids solo means them missing out on a variety of social interactions, as well as the powerful tool of modeling.  These mini-me's just want to emulate us, and while we all know that they observe everything that we are doing, we often forget to apply that to eating. They notice that the broccoli is on our plate and what we like to eat.  Not to oversimplify, but If your kid never sees you eating the broccoli, they might not eat it either.  

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Please don't fret if you have already begun some of these habits, my hope is that this information will empower you to make some changes that will lay the groundwork for good eating habits throughout your child's life.  Although it may take a little more time to undo some of what I discussed here, you can get back on track by slowly making changes.  Pick one thing to focus on at a time and be patient!

If your looking for more help on establishing good eating habits click here, here, and here. Follow me on facebook for quick tips and ideas.  

As always, I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, let me know what you're thinking or any questions you may have.

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How Meal Planning Can Help Picky Eaters: Guest Post at Super Healthy Kids!

Many of you following along here at Your Kid's Table or on our Facebook page know that I love meal plans. Wonder how it might help a picky eater or problem feeder in your life? Well, I got the scoop on that over at Super Healthy Kids today.  I am thrilled to be guest posting there, as many of you know it is an amazing site full of wonderful resources related to healthy eating for the whole family.  Don't be shy when you hop over, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

How Meal Planning Can Help Picky Eaters!

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5 Reasons Kids Refuse to Eat

People ask me all the time, "Why doesn't my kid eat?"  Most of you know how frustrating meal time can be when you try something new or worse when you serve something they've eaten before and then refuse to eat! Most kids will do this occasionally, but for some it is a way of life.  So, what gives? Well, a variety of factors can contribute and the reasons can evolve over time.  There is value in doing some detective work because getting to the root of the problem will then give you the tools to help them eat more food, more consistently.  In my experience and specialized feeding education,I believe there are 5 different reasons kids refuse to eat.  At the same time, it is common for several of these underlying issues to affect a child's ability to eat well at the same time.  Keeping that in mind, let me a explain in some more detail...

Medical

Although this may seem like the most obvious reason kids don't eat, it is often the most overlooked.  Well, at least it isn't always explored deeply enough.  When kids have a well documented medical condition or are visibly sick, it is obvious that their eating can be affected, but sometimes there are more subtle issues.  Two of the biggest culprits are acid reflux and constipation.  Both of these very common problems for kids can put a halt to eating.  Sarah Dees guest posted a few months back about reflux and it's effects on an infant, but it can also have an impact on kids much older- even if they weren't diagnosed as an infant.  My older son has struggled with constipation since he was about a year old.  I have to carefully watch his fiber intake and when he starts to get a little backed up,  his eating is greatly affected.  Every time he has a bad meal, I have to ask myself, "Does he need to go to the bathroom?"  The answer is usually, "Yes!"

If you read through the rest of this post and feel that none of the other categories fit with why your child isn't eating, I would strongly encourage you to think about any possible stomach issues.  Kids aren't always able to verbalize how they are feeling or realize it is part of the problem.  Definitely discuss it further with your doc, there are some really simple fixes for some of these problems.  By the way, teething, fatigue, and other common aliments fit into this category.  

Sensory

For many "picky eaters" sensory processing plays a big role in their refusal to eat foods. Simply put, if something feels gross in their mouth or on their hands, they aren't going to eat it.  The fancy therapeutic term we give for this is tactile defensive.  Clues that your child may be refusing foods because they are defensive are: gagging, squirming, or seeming frightened by the sight, smell, touch, or taste of a particular food. Oral aversion also fits into this category.  If your child has had medical testing, feeding tubes, or a physical incident in or around their mouth/throat (even from a infancy) they may be scared to have anything come toward their mouth and be overly sensitive in the area.  

On the other end of the sensory spectrum, a child may not be able to discriminate food in their mouth well and they will unsafely stuff a large amount of food into their cheeks like a chipmunk.  This helps give them some feedback as to where the food actually is.  These kids lose track of the food easily and can't chew it well.  Soft foods that aren't easily discriminated (think mashed potatoes, cheese, etc.) are usually refused because they can't manipulate them well in their mouth.  

I have written a lot about the sensory-food connection. Check out those posts here and here if you are looking for more info on this!

Mechanics

This one might be a little tricky for parents to figure out because you need to consider how well your child is chewing and swallowing their food.  You can probably rule this out if you have a child over 2.5 that safely and easily transitioned onto table foods.  Signs that your child may not be chewing well are: choking/gagging after the food is already in their mouth for a few seconds/minutes, spitting out half chewed food, or throwing up food that looks like it has hardly been chewed.  They also may have had difficulty breastfeeding and struggled with table foods when they were introduced.  Kids will start refusing to eat foods because they don't know how to chew it or they are scared they are going to gag/choke/throw up again on this food.  They will often stick to a limited diet because they know they can manage them safely.  

Routine

What do I mean by routine exactly?  Well, I strongly believe that structure and routine around food and meal time is critical to kids eating well.  I know there are a few kids out there that will manage to eat well with the lack thereof, but by in large most kids eating habits will suffer greatly without a regular routine.  This can be a touchy subject for parents, we all have our comfortable eating habits and routines that we have already established for ourselves as adults.  We often continue to do what is comfortable for us with our kids, but it isn't always what leads us to teaching them habits that we really want them to have. If you don't have regular meal times, pay attention to how frequently they are eating. Do you eat in front of the TV often, and/or mostly let your kids pick what they want to eat? If they aren't eating well or willing to try foods, lack of routine may be the reason for it... or at least part of it. 

I commonly see this compounded on top of one of the other 4 reasons kids don't eat.  When there is a problem with eating, we get overwhelmed and start grasping at straws just to get them to eat. This is another way the bad habits can begin and then play a role in poor eating.

Check out my Basic Strategies to Improve Eating and Easy Feeding Tips for a lot more info on the importance of routine and Easy Feeding Tips!

Behavior

I put behavior at the end of this list for a reason.  I want this to be the last thing that you consider. A lot of people advise parents that kids are being "bad" or that the reason they are refusing to eat well is behavior based.  Although, behavior plays a role, it is actually a small percentage of kids that actually refuse to eat based solely on behavior.  Now, please don't mistake me, even the youngest of tykes will learn quickly what they need to say or cry or throw to get what food they want.  All kids go through different stages of development when they are testing boundaries and you can bet they will test it at meal times, too.  After all, this is one of the few areas where they actually have some control.  But, these kinds of little phases are short lived and aren't severe.  For kids that have a history of being picky or poor eaters, behavior is a piece of the puzzle, but typically it has evolved from one of the legitimate reasons listed above.  


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So, I gave you a lot to think about!  If you are confused, overwhelmed, or still not sure why your kid is struggling with food, a consultation might be a good idea.  See the tab at the top or click here for more info!
        

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10 Awesome and Affordable Sensory Toys

It is the holiday season, which leaves many parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles on the hunt for toys a child will treasure.  It can be challenging, to say the least!  I have compiled a list of my top ten favorite sensory toys that any child could enjoy.  Of course, this list could be extra helpful for a child with Sensory Processing Disorder or Autism. 

I have some unusual toys that you surely won't come across in your local toy store and some unexpected every day items.  Plus, I've got every budget covered, from big ticket items and unique stocking stuffers priced between $3-80.  I have included a brief description of each toy and how it will give your child sensory feedback.  If you need a refresher on sensory processing or some of the terms I am using, click here for my sensory basics page. 

Vibrating Massager ($7.94)

 Vibration is one of the strongest forms of sensory input and it can be used to help improve attention/focus, if it is used briefly.  Think of playing a game where the vibrating "bug" quickly jumps onto different spots of the body for a few minutes when your child is having difficulty focusing.  At the same time, when you use vibration for a prolonged time, the input can become very calming, just like the vibrating back massagers adults like to lean on (by the way those can be great for kids too).  This would be a great toy to have in a time out area to help your child calm down.  

Mini Trampoline ($39.99)

If your child seeks out proprioceptive input (deep pressure) or needs help calming down, staying focused, or getting themselves organized, the trampoline is one of the best ways to meet those needs.  My kids have one of these and I drag it into many of the homes I go into because it gives great sensory feedback.  Sing rhythmic songs that your child can jump to like "1,2 Buckle My Shoe" or "The Ants Go Marching," especially if you are using it to improve attention.  Silly songs and jumping wildly are fun, but may get your kid more wound up in the short term. There are a ton of different varieties, some even have handles and legs that come off or fold for easy storage.

*Please watch your child and be close by to supervise appropriate use of the trampoline when it is in use.

Lava Lamp ($20.42)

Did I surprise you with this one?  Lava lamps can very relaxing to look at, as it gives visual input to our sensory system.  Kids can become mesmerized by these, which may not always be a good thing.  I would recommend using this for bedtime, as a nightlight, that the child can focus on to help them fall asleep.  Kids that have a hard time being still or calming down may also responds well to this.  Again, this would be great in a time-out or cool down area, just make sure it is out of reach from little hands.  These are just for looking.

Bath Foam Soap ($2.89)

Obviously, this works great in the tub. Squirt it on your kid and the wall of the tub. Let them go to town smearing and spreading it around.  In the bath, it washes off easily and with little clean up.  If you are brave enough, you can squirt this or shaving cream onto a cookie sheet and let them go at it.  Once they have it all spread out, it is a great way to work on shapes, letters, or spelling by having them use their index finger to draw in the foam.  I should mention that the coloring these foams use (I have tried a few different brands) seem to stain when they are used out of the bath, so be sure to have a few old towels around if you go this route.  Either way, lots of tactile feedback is coming your kids way.  If your child is tactile defensive, you may have to ease into this texture, it can be overwhelming for some kiddos.

Rody Inflatable Horse ($39.95)

This guy is so much fun! It holds a ridiculous amount of weight and is extremely durable.  It is similar to bouncing your kid on top of a large exercise ball (which is great, too), but with Rody your child can hop on and off easily by themselves to get loads of that proprioceptive input.

Kid O Bilibo ($24)

Is it a bowl? Is it a seat? It is a Bilibo! This fun European toy is designed to be indescribable.  The idea is to stimulate creativity and allow kids to use it in numerous and inventive ways. From a sensory standpoint, I love it for it's most obvious use- a seat, that a child can easily spin themselves around in.  Yes, this is great vestibular input!

Fabric Tunnel ($10-20)

These DIY doesn't get any easier and it folds up like a blanket for easy storage.  The tunnel needs held open so kids can crawl through or it can be used to wrap around a child.  Both ways, it gives great proprioceptive input.  I have a whole post on the sensory tunnel low down, check it out here!

Rocker ($9.99)

I love this find for only 10$!  This simple toy that rocks back and forth like a traditional rocking horse will provide lots of vestibular input.  Our kids are getting it for Christmas, I think they can both fit on it together, but it will have to wait till then for a trial run.  My 16 month old wouldn't get off it in the store.

Swivel Chair ($79.99)

The shade on this super cool kids chair pulls down and the whole thing spins!  All the spinning gives lots of vestibular feedback.  The shade that pulls down allows kids to retreat to a quiet space, which can be really important for kids that get overstimulated.  These chairs could work really well for a calm down space, too.  Stick the mini-vibrating massager I mentioned at the top and you have instant relaxation space!

Jump Rope ($9)

                                                 

A jump rope used in its traditional sense gives lots of proprioceptive feedback with all of that jumping.  However, I carry a knotted rope to therapy for tugging back and forth.  I like to sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" with toddlers and preschoolers while I give them firm and steady tugs for proprioception.  Older kids would love to play tug of war, which would have the same effect.  

I personally have most of the toys listed here and use them with my own kids and in therapy.  They work really well in my experience.  Do you already have some of these? Please share your feedback, it would be helpful for us all to know how your kid has played with them!   

If you want to keep more sensory ideas coming follow me on facebook and Pinterest.  I regularly post and pin sensory resources and play ideas!

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Easy Feeding Tips...From My Table to Yours

Our family is in a huge transition right now.  11 weeks ago we moved in temporarily with my mother after selling our house before we could move into our new one.  I knew there would probably be set backs in all areas of my 2 year old's life.  Our routines are different and the dynamic with extra adults around has changed mealtimes in particular.  I have always considered my nearly 3 year old's eating to be pretty good.  However, since we have been in this state of limbo and I have been managing more difficult behaviors in other areas (aka pooping in his underwear), I have let his eating slowly decline.  It's not like I didn't see it happening slowly, but I kept telling myself, "It will be better when we move into our new house.  We will get back to our routine."  I was hoping we would be moving in 2 weeks.  Now it is pretty certain that it will be another 4-6 weeks.  I decided, finally, that his eating needed addressed now, it couldn't wait any longer.  I wanted to share with you some of the strategies that helped me rope his eating back in-- quickly! 

Some of these strategies I have discussed before and some are quick tips to get you thinking.  More than anything, I want you to get a feel for how I problem solve through feeding challenges at my table, in the hopes that you can apply some of the same strategies at your table.


Get a Game Plan

The first step in getting Sam's eating back on track was to come up with a game plan and get my husband on the same page.  Obviously, he totally follows my lead in this department, but it's really important that I communicate with him exactly how we are going to proceed.  Since my mom is a big part of mealtimes, I had a talk with her too.

I had to think-- what had really changed?  I was still giving a preferred food at meals, spacing meals 3 hours apart, and serving a variety of foods (see Basic Strategies for more on this).  Yet, he was getting so particular about what he was eating and playing with his food more than he was eating it.  Once I reflected on his eating, I was able to focus on a few strategies in particular, I have outlined them for you below.  

Cooking Together and Being Engaged Through the Whole Process

The biggest strategy I had forgotten lately is Cooking with Your Kid- Umm, Hello!  If you follow this blog you know that I talk about this all the time and have written many posts on cooking with Sam.  It has gotten him interested in many new foods!  So, first step in my game plan: Get Sam cooking again. Last night we made tacos and after cooking together, he ate tomatoes and turkey meat willingly, which are foods he has been refusing lately! 

Positive Parenting

Since I am fairly sure that the stress of this tranisition and temporary housing is having an affect on Sam, I needed to address why he may be acting out at meals.  Was the meal really the problem? Was he getting enough attention?  

A few nights ago I watched a webinar on Positive Parenting Solutions hosted by Creative with Kids (by the way, there is a ton of wonderful posts on positive parenting over there). It was a wonderful reminder for me that I need to really make sure that Sam is getting specific attention on a daily basis.  I have been going out of my way to make sure that I am engaged with him, trying to put my agenda aside and really be present throughout the day.  It is hard, but I am cutting way back on multi-tasking.  By the way, the cooking time that we shared accomplished this plus it gave him a sense of purpose in our family.  It is important for kids to feel like they are contributing to the family.  

"I'm all done."

Sam has announced at a few meals recently, "I'm all done."  It caught me off guard initially. I'm not going to get into a power struggle here, so I let him be all done, even if it was only a few minutes after the meal begun.  BUT, I told him that there was no food until the next meal.  Each time I make sure that he has heard me and make him repeat it back to me.  I fully intended to follow through.  The few times he tried this, he came back within less than 5 minutes and asked to finish his meal.  You know what? He did!  I wouldn't have let him do this if a longer amount of time had passed.  I know that his little brain needed a minute or two to process what had happened.  

Salvaging a Meal that is on the Rocks

Mealtime with kids can get out of hand in a hurry.  Before you throw in the towel, can you make small, reasonable changes to the meal? I use this strategy a lot with both of my kids.  I am not talking about getting something different to eat or jumping through hoops.  There are times that legitimately the food needs to be changed a little.  Kids won't force down cold food, or foods that isn't seasoned well the way most of us will.  If it doesn't taste great, then they probably won't eat it.  Also, sometimes kids just need to shift focus, it may have nothing to do with the food... you just have to get them interested.  I had to use several of these today at lunch and in the end it was a decent meal. Here is a list of the some the tricks I use:

• Heating up food.  A couple of quick seconds in the microwave can make the food a lot more palatable.

• Cut it up or give a big piece.  I change up whatever way I originally presented it.  Today I gave him a meatball cut in half, thinking he would like to take bites off or cut it himself.  After seeing he wasn't eating them. I asked, "Would you like me to cut them into small pieces?" I did, and he ate 4-5 pieces. I was content with that. 

• Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, or parsley on the food.  I only use a miniscule amount, but Sam thinks it is special and will often dig in.

• Give a different utensil.  I might say, "Oh, would you like your digger fork, instead, to eat those meatballs?"  This works more often than you would think.

• Add a sauce, dip, or liquid.  Sometimes I mix more milk in the homemade mac and cheese or add some chicken broth to the rice.  I let my kids see me do this and then re-present.  Often, they see that has changed and you have engaged them a little so they may be more willing to give it a try.  Also, think of offering dips or more sauce.

At the top of this post I shared that our family was in transition, and in this instance I think that is part of the reason for the decline in Sam's eating.  BUT, it is very typical for kid's eating to go up and down over days, weeks, and months.  They go in and out of phases.  The important thing is that WE stay consistent.  The times when their eating goes down hill a little, use some of these strategies to get things back on track!

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How Much Sugar is in Your Kid's Food?

Sugar.  We know our kids shouldn't have a lot of it.  We know cookies, cake, and soda are loaded with it.  If we only give our kids those high-sugar special foods in moderation, then we are moderating their sugar, right... Sadly, the answer is no!  Many of the everyday foods we feed our kids are loaded with sugar, even the food that seem to be "healthy".  So what am I referring to?  Well, nearly every single kid yogurt on the market has 3-4 teaspoons of sugar in a single serving.  Think about that for a minute.  Imagine taking the little teaspoon you measure with in recipes, and dipping it into the sugar bowl 4 times.  Then imagine placing all that sugar on your kid's yogurt before they take a bite.  It is kind of staggering when you start to think about it.  So what do you do about it?  What other foods are hiding sugar?  How do you know how much sugar is really in the foods you feed to your family?  It is a lot to think about!  Read on for answers to all these questions and more...

How Much Sugar is Hiding in Our Food?

That nutrition label on the back of food containers gives you the amount of sugar in grams.  Great, what does that mean?  Exactly how much is 11 grams, that doesn't sound too bad?  Well, every 4 grams of sugar is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar. Generally speaking less than 5 grams is good.  However, it is important to keep in mind that fruits and some vegetables have sugar that are occurring in them naturally.  Homemade, unsweetened applesauce has 11 grams of sugar.  The foods that really raise the red flag are the ones that add sugar into their products and it seems like just about every product on our grocery shelves does.

So you also need to take a look at the list of ingredients in your food.  Does it say sugar or corn syrup? Obviously, it has been added into the food! There are a few other names for sugar that you may not recognize so quickly though:

• Syrup
• Honey
• Molasses
• Fruit Juice Concentrate
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Dextrose, Fructose, Glucose, etc. (sugar names ending in "ose")

One other thing to keep in mind when you are looking at the label is serving size.  Sometimes these are really small and your kid may be eating two servings at one sitting, then doubling the sugar on the label.

Surprise Sugar Offenders

Three teaspoons of sugar (or more) in kid's yogurt.

I remember when my older son was transitioning to table foods and I wanted to start him on yogurt.  I stood in the the store looking for something organic, staying far from the popular brands with brightly colored yogurt.  I brought home a yogurt with all natural ingredients and my baby gladly gobbled it up, it was very tasty.  At the same time I was reading My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus: Raising Children Who Love to Eat Everything. In that book I learned the 4 gram rule and immediately began checking the little bits of food I was giving my pure little 9 month old.  I was SHOCKED that his healthy, expensive, organic, natural yogurt had 16 grams, or should I say, 4 whole teaspoons of sugar in it!  What else had tons of sugar in it?  Here are some foods I have surprisingly found to have a lot of sugar in them.

Jarred Mandarin Oranges (1/2 cup)-- 18 grams or 4 and 1/2 tsp
Instant Oatmeal-- 13 grams or 3 tsp

Graham Crackers (2 sheets)-- 8 grams or 2 tsp

Cereal Bars-- up to 18 grams or 4 and 1/2 tsp

Applesauce (1/2 cup)-- 14 grams or 3 and 1/2 tsp

Apple Juice (1 cup) -- 28 grams or 7 tsp

Jelly (1 tsp)-- 6 grams or 1 and 1/2 tsp

These numbers may vary by brand. This is by no means a complete list, I find surprising high sugar foods all the time!

What You Can Do About It

Read the label!  I can't stress this enough.  Now you know what to look for, and although it is a teeny bit of a pain to read labels when you are trying new products, it is the best way to ensure you know what is going into your kids mouth.  Remember, look at the amount of grams and the list of ingredients for added sugars.

You can also try making some of the foods you buy.  For instance, I started buying plain yogurt and putting fresh fruit with a little bit of honey on top.  I will admit that my son doesn't eat quite as much and it was a little of a transition.  

Another tip is to look for foods that are unsweetened, just be careful they haven't added in a diet sugar substitute like saccharin or sucralose (splenda).  It is pretty easy to find applesauce that is unsweetened.  The ingredient list reads: pureed apples.

Lastly, remember all things in moderation.  If you know you are going to give a favorite cereal bar that is high in sugar, try to keep the sugar intake low with other foods that day.  Keep those high sugar favorites for once-in-a-while treats.

Daily Recommended Sugar Intake for Kids

The American Heart Association recommended that preschoolers not have more than 3 teaspoons of sugar a day and kids 5-7 should not have more than 4 teaspoons.  Most kids are doubling or tripling these numbers in a day.  

Although, there is a lot of research showing that sugar doesn't effect behavior, hyperactivity, or attention, it does have strong links to heart disease, diabetes, and tooth decay!

Want to Know More

I used a few really great resources to fact check some of the information that I shared.  Check out these links if you want more on sugar and healthy living:

American Heart Association

Family Education

The Dr. Oz Show

National Institute of Health

Do you read labels when you shop?  Have you found any surprising high sugar foods? Please share or let me know what you think! I would love to hear from you!!!

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22 Fall Sensory Play Ideas

Yeah! Today is the first day of October, we are now into the full swing of fall!  There are so many wonderful opportunities to explore new sensory experiences in this season of change.  

I have said many times before that sensory play is more than just a texture bin, although those are great, too.  Kids are able to take in sounds, smells, sights, and even movement as forms of sensory input.  Today, I have 22 wonderful fall sensory play ideas, many from around the blogosphere.  Plenty to keep you busy this month!  I will highlight some of the not-so-obvious sensory input your kiddos will be getting with these activities along the way.  Here's to a sensory-filled October!

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1. To start our list off, I am going to share the ultimate tactile experience - Pumpkin Guts!  The boys helped take the seeds and pulp out of a small pumpkin that we roasted. 

I do suggest that you proceed with this activity cautiously, if you have a child that is tactile defensive.  This is some intense input, if your child is reluctant, gently encourage and offer a utensil to use instead of their hands.  Hopefully, they will get more comfortable and dive right in as you proceed.

2. Give some proprioceptive (deep pressure) input with Pounding Golf Tees into Pumpkins, as demonstrated by I Can Teach Myself.  This is at the very top of my fall sensory bucket list, I love it.  Besides the sensory benefits, talk about great for fine motor skills!

3. Of course you have to get into some home-made play dough, with lovely fall scents and colors. Try Apple Play Dough from Life at the Zoo...

4. Or Pumpkin Play Dough From a Mom Not a Pro

5. Go on a nature walk and try Collecting Chestnuts or buckeyes like the Happy Hooligans did.  You and the little ones will be taking in the powerful and unique scents, sights, and feel of fall.  Happy Hooligans uses some fun kitchen utensils that work on fine-motor skills, too!  

6. Put other finds from your walk in Autumn Discovery Bottles, a safe way for babies to explore the sensations of fall!

7. Make Eerie Sounds with this fun little noisemaker from Science Sparks

8. Have the kids help you make Pumpkin Spice, Orange Colored Rice from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails, looks good enough to eat, well if it were cooked!  Besides the wonderful tactile feedback they get, the color and smell will be stimulating, as well.

9.  Gather fall leaves into piles and let the kids run and jump through them for loads of proprioceptive, vestibular, tactile input, AND fun!

10. Blindfold the kiddies and have them reach them into Guess Bags filled with fall finds, like The Pleasantest Thing did. Wonderful for developing tactile discrimination.  Love this one!





11. Use black beans and Halloween inspired toys to make a go to sensory bin like H is for Homeschooling. You will get a lot of use out of this bin throughout the month and more! 



12. Make "pumpkin cake" in A Jewled Rose's Pumpkin Scented Cloud Dough.







13. Get messy in Halloween Jelly from Nurturestore.

14. Explore Fall Seeds with tweezers, magnify glasses, and petri dishes from Teach Preschool.

15. Roast a pumpkin and use to mix in with pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal.  Canned pumpkin works fine though, too! Pumpkin is a unique flavor that kids often enjoy.




16. Set up Autumn Mini Discovery Boxes for your child to find and explore through.

17. Make Dry Leaf Confetti and use it to make some fun fall crafts, from Cute and Peculiar.

18. Bake and eat apple chips like the ones from Dream Kitchen.  Talk about how the texture and taste of the apple changes before and after cooking.

19. Create Acorn Paintings with recycled containers, it will be hard to avoid getting messy with this activity. Kids will get deep pressure from shaking the containers up to make their art!


20. Turn fall puddles into Monster Puddles and go splashing!

21. Pretend the kids are squirrels to assemble a Fall Sensory Bin that they dig through while playing outside, from The Pleasantest Thing.  








22. Make glow in the dark slime from A Jeweled Rose!






I have even more pinned at Pinterest, come follow along!

Have more ideas or links you would like to share? Please let me know in the comments!  What will be on your list this October?

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