Hands on Therapy turns the “Don’t play with your food” saying upside down. We encourage kids to play and get messy with their food. The Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding, developed by Kay Toomey, Ph.D, uses systematic desensitization to decrease anxiety around food. Basically, through fun and play, kids discover food isn’t quite so yucky.
Following an initial evaluation, individual or group treatments may be recommended. Sessions include information and discussion regarding why children develop picky eating patterns and how to carry out this approach at home. The program teaches the differences and similarities between foods, helping children learn to appreciate a variety of tastes and textures. As a result of this program, children will eat more food and enjoy a greater variety of foods through exploration and play. Since mealtime is often a social time for families/peers, children who enjoy eating have a greater quality of life!