Summer Sensory Fun
Podcast Episode Air Date: June 16, 2025
Host: Christine Miroddi Yoder, Pediatric Feeding Therapist
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Welcome back to the show! I’m Christine Miroddi Yoder, pediatric feeding therapist and founder of Foodology Feeding and the Unlocking Mealtimes program — where we help kids go from fearful eaters to foodies.
In today’s episode, we’re diving into how summer can be a powerful time to shift your child’s relationship with food — not by adding pressure, but by bringing in sensory play and FUN.
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Why Summer Is the Perfect Time for Progress
Summer already brings a break from school, looser routines, and more time outside — and that can work in your favor.
Kids are already out of their usual rhythm, which means they may be more open to change.
So if your child avoids textures, refuses to touch certain foods, or struggles with anxiety around eating — this is a great time to experiment gently and playfully.
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Why Sensory Play Helps with Feeding
Some parents are hesitant about letting kids “play with their food,” especially if that wasn’t allowed in their own childhood. But here’s why feeding therapy often does involve food play:
* Eating is a multi-sensory experience — it involves taste, touch, smell, sound, and sight.
* For kids with sensory sensitivities, that’s a lot to process.
* Taking food out of the high-pressure mealtime environment and into playful settings helps reduce stress and build trust.
That’s why we focus on building comfort and curiosity before expecting tasting or eating.
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5 Summer Sensory Activities to Try
1. Watermelon Slime
Make red or pink slime with add-ins like black beans or chia seeds to look like watermelon seeds. You can even add watermelon-scented oil or include real watermelon slices nearby.
This builds tolerance for smell, color, and texture — without the pressure to eat.
2. Food-Themed Ice Cube Excavation
Freeze small food items (like peas or corn) along with tiny toys in ice cube trays. Let your child “rescue” the items with hammers, spoons, or tongs.
The mix of food and play makes the experience non-threatening and fun.
3. Mud Kitchen with Veggie Toys
Set up a mud kitchen with dirt, water, toy veggies, and even real herbs or food scraps. Let kids mix, scoop, and “cook” freely.
Getting messy helps desensitize their hands — a huge win for texture-sensitive kids.
4. Sensory Water Table
Fill a water bin with things like orange slices, mint leaves, cinnamon sticks, or basil. Let kids swirl, squeeze, and sniff.
Water is calming, and adding food elements makes it a powerful, low-pressure exposure opportunity.
5. Build-Your-Own Fruit Kebabs
Offer various fruits (cut into fun shapes if you like) and let your child assemble their own skewer — no expectation to eat it.
This builds familiarity and gives them control in the experience.
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How to Talk During Food Play
Your language matters — a lot.
Instead of praise or pressure like “Good job touching the strawberry,” try curiosity-based statements like:
* “What color is your strawberry?”
* “How does that feel to you?”
* “It’s wetter than I thought it would be!”
* “I wonder what it smells like…”
Always let your child lead the play — if they want to stir with a spoon instead of touch, that’s fine.
You can model the next step by narrating your own experience gently (“I’m going to scoop this into my hand now. It feels sticky!”). This gives your child a clear but pressure-free way to move forward.
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The Big Picture: Comfort First, Then Curiosity
We’re not aiming for bites or licks right away. The goal of these activities is to build positive associations with food.
If your child is fearful or stuck in the same 5 foods, these kinds of explorations are the first step toward flexibility.
Summer is the best time to begin, without the stress of the school year looming.
Not sure where to start? Take my free quiz at thepickyeataters.com to find out if your child is in the Fearful, Stuck, or Curious stage. The results will give you personalized guidance on what to do next based on their current level.
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Thanks for hanging out today! I hope you’ll try a few of these ideas and start shifting your child’s relationship with food — one playful moment at a time.
I’ll see you next week.
