Conclusion
A Few Reminders…
Here are a few reminders as we end this module of the parent training program. Expanding food choices, especially for children with autism and other developmental problems, is not easy. Be patient. Take things very slowly. Praise your child and give yourself a pat on the back, for small victories. One pea, when he would never eat one before, is a reason for celebration. Increase the amounts of new food you offer your child very gradually. Add only one or two new foods at a time, making them similar to what you know he likes, and shape things very slowly. Use lots of praise and lots of rewards. Be calm and pleasant. When things don’t work out the way you would like and your child refuses the new food you have presented, be matter-of-fact and just say something like, ”Oh, you don’t want that now. That’s okay. We can try again later.”
It’s more important not to turn eating into a struggle and a time of unhappiness than to get the child to try new foods. But don’t give in to tantrums either.
If you feel upset and frustrated, take some deep breaths, take a break, and don’t let the child see that you’re upset. It’s more important not to turn eating into a struggle and a time of unhappiness than to get the child to try new foods. But don’t give in to tantrums either. Just remain as calm and neutral as you can. This is not an easy problem to solve. It’s worth repeating so we’ll say it again one more time. Go slow, be patient, and back off if what you’re doing isn’t working, after you give it a good try. You can always try again at another time. And remember to consult your child’s doctor if you have any fears that he is not getting the nutrition he needs.
In this module, we have covered much information related to eating problems, especially with children who eat very few foods and refuse a lot of healthy food choices. Now we will ask you to answer some questions related to what you have learned. All of the questions will have multiple choice answers. There will be 8 questions. If you answer all of the questions correctly about the things you want to try with your child, you are probably ready to try some of the suggestions we have made in this section. However, if some of the questions were difficult for you, or if you answered all of the questions correctly but think you may benefit from reviewing this material once again, please do so. In fact, this is a long module, and it might be a good idea to review each part separately. This might make it easier to remember the various steps or details about the parts you want to try out. You can also print out the pages you want to review and keep them nearby to use as a reference. And, of course, you need review only those sections you plan to try out with your child.