How To Handle Picky Eaters

Posted on June 11, 2018 | by KD Novelties

How to Handle Picky Eaters and What May Help Them Get Over It

Many kids are known for being picky eaters, and there may be reasons for that. Certain vegetables or greens can taste bitter to a child’s hypersensitive taste buds.

Other foods, like cilantro, can taste soapy to certain individuals while it may taste delicious to others. In other cases, however, picky eating may just come down to preferences and experiences. Kids who are not exposed to other foods may become cautious eaters and grow hesitant to trying something new. However, other kids may have a legitimate issue with texture and taste.

Hows and Whys

The first step to understanding your picky eater is to figure out where their pickiness comes from. If it’s a matter of taste and texture, you can try and work around these issues by sticking to foods that do not have these features. For instance, if broccoli is too bitter, sweet peas may be a better tasting alternative. If it all comes down to fear of the unknown, then there are some other things you can consider.

A Head’s Up

Giving kids options, or letting them know what is available, can help them eat what’s in front of them. If they are conditioned to believe that you’ll whip up some macaroni and cheese anytime they don’t like or refuse to eat something, they may begin refusing to eat certain foods outright without even trying.

You can let them know ahead of time what to expect when it comes time to eat. Letting them know that if they don’t like what’s on the menu is fine. But you can also emphasize that there are no other options.

Allowing kids to know what to expect and giving them a window can help mentally prepare them for the meal to come. This will also help prevent a tantrum, especially if they might otherwise be surprised by a new or unfamiliar food. Another option is to get kids involved in cooking so that they are more likely to eat if they were a part of the process.

Keep it Fresh

Spicing things up a bit can help, too. Keep in mind though that taste buds are sensitive in children. However, exposing them to different flavors, spices, and other ingredients early on can help make new foods more familiar to them. If they have something to refer back to, they may be more adventurous and willing to try new dishes.

Make it a Group Activity

Eating as a family certainly helps, too. When you eat as a unit, it becomes more of a family activity rather than a chore, especially for kids who would much rather play than eat a meal. Plus, plenty of studies show that kids who eat dinner with their families have healthier diets, better vocabularies, and much more.

You can still expect kids to get squirmy after a while and not finish everything on their plate, but by making dinner and other meals a sit-down family affair, it can help coerce them into being a part of the activity itself and come to really appreciate family meals together.

A Little Bribery Can Go a Long Way…

If all else fails, you can always promise them ice cream. While you shouldn’t allow them to replace a meal with a treat, the idea of a treat afterward, or when a good portion of the food is gone can help. You can also apply this to seconds, as well. However, if your child prefers one part of the main course over another, no seconds will be allowed. Once they’ve eaten a good amount of their vegetables or other healthy side also included in the meal.

Make Book Reading a Sensory Experience

Posted on April 25, 2018 | by KD Novelties

Ways to Make Book Reading a Sensory Experience

Making book reading a sensory experience can be fun when you involve the kids. We all use our senses to engage with and understand the world around us. The way that people interact with the world is different from person to person, and it can be especially particular for those on the spectrum. When it comes to special needs children, sometimes one or more senses are either over- or under-reactive to stimulation. Understanding how your child operates, what they respond to, and what they like can help make learning much more tangible for them. Reading a picture book aloud can be an active and engaging activity for children. It can be even more effective with the use of some simple strategies. Here are some ways how you can make reading a book aloud to your child more of a sensory experience.

Texture

Many children’s books might already have this ingredient, especially baby books. However, for children on the spectrum, the addition of texture, fabrics, materials other than paper, and even props can help them engage with the story. If you have picture books, you can add your own textures with materials from any arts and craft stores such as felt, cotton balls, fur etc. where appropriate. You can customize books to be more interactive and encourage your child to interact with the book and the story even more.

Props and Visual Aids

Props and visual aids can be useful in many ways. It can help kids understand the story and recreate scenes and retell the story on their own. Thus, helping them retain information and develop a closer understanding of the story. Items like stuffed animals, toys resembling characters, felt board sets, sequencing cards, miniature objects and more can all be helpful and enriching.

Sounds

Adding sounds while reading can do a lot for kids, too. You can ask your child to imitate farm animal sounds or any other actions that are included in the story like trains and cars. For kids who are minimally verbal or non-verbal, you can consider augmentative and alternative communication in place of sounds. This can include actions, miming, or pointing to certain things as they happen in the story.

Smell and Taste

Creating a more engaging atmosphere can be fun for reading, too. Adding candle scents or going outside to recreate the setting of the story can help your child with their imagination. They can get a better grip on the characters are and what they are doing. If food or candy is mentioned, having some of the same on hand can be fun, and tasty, too.

Moving Around

This is a great way to not only add some exercise to your day but can make reading a far more active experience. You can get up and engage in the same activities as the characters in the story. You can also reenact entire scenes straight from the book. This encourages children to think about what the characters would do or what the story is about. By approaching stories in different ways, you may find the one that reaches and affects your child the most.

Teaching Kids About Money

Posted on April 24, 2018 | by KD Novelties

Teaching Kids About Money

Teaching kids about money can be a strange concept for children. Many kids eventually develop an understanding that things cost money and money is needed for certain goods and services. However, they may not know where that money comes from or what its value really is. Teaching your kids even just the basics about money can help them with simple math. This knowledge will also help mold them into young savvy savers.

First Thing’s First: Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees

Many kids might think that in order to get money, all you have to do is go to the bank and ask for some. Take the time to explain where and how money comes from. You need to work hard to make money and the types of jobs they can obtain. This will help them better understand that there is more to money than it simply being at a bank. Depending on how old your children are, you can provide them money or other forms of payment. This can be such as snacks in exchange for completing chores or helping around the house.

Giving Them the Goods

Whether you decide to give your children money in exchange for chores or as an allowance, you can use this as an opportunity to teach them budgeting. The best way to teach kids how to manage their money is to give them some. If they decide to spend their allowance on a new toy, then they won’t have enough left over for when the ice cream truck rolls around. This may sound like a hassle to deal with at first. However, first-hand experience is a great teacher and it is more likely to be a lesson they will remember.

Spending vs. Saving

This can be a family activity that you do together, whether your child is helping you go grocery shopping or you are helping them look for the best deal on a toy they want. Looking at coupons, comparing prices, and making a budget together can be really helpful for forging good spending habits in the future. Plus, it can help teach them valuable, and thrifty, saving and spending skills.

Incorporating Fun Activities

There are many activities out there that can teach kids about money while at the same time helping with their math skills. These activities can be based around basic financial principles, including charitable giving, delayed gratification, budgeting, saving money, and compounding interest. For more in-depth reading on how these fun activities can be implemented read here.