Welcome to "On the Horizon"

Issue 231: Introducing New Foods to your Child with Feeding Challenges

On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.

To keep receiving On the Horizon, please add the email address "nicolebeurkens@horizonsdrc.com" to your safe address list.

• A Note from Dr. Beurkens
• Feature Article: Introducing New Foods to your Child with Feeding Challenges
• Ask the Horizons Team
• Upcoming Events
• Recommended Resources

Hi Everyone!

It’s been a very busy 2013 here at Horizons, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down as we head into the last weeks of the year. We’ve welcomed a record number of new families into our Horizons family since the start of the school year. We only have space for a few more patients and families as we head into 2014. If we can be of service to you for evaluation or treatment services, let us know soon so we can save room for you on our schedule. For those of you who are professionals, I’m finalizing my speaking schedule for 2014 and you can see all the seminars I will be doing in the first half of the year here.

The feature article this week will be very helpful for those of you dealing with children who are resistant to trying new foods. Erin provides tips to expand food repertoires for children who are picky eaters or have feeding disorders. In the Q&A this week I share some great sites for holiday shopping if you want gifts that help kids think and grow.

Thanksgiving is next week in the United States, and I want to take a moment to thank all of you for being part of our Horizons community. It is a pleasure to connect with you throughout the year through this newsletter. Enjoy the holiday with friends and family, and take time to count the many blessings in your life.

Looking to the horizon,

Introducing New Foods to your Child with Feeding Challenges

By Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP

Having previously considered the differences between a picky eater and a problem feeder, here are some simple tips for introducing your child to new foods.

Involve your child in preparing the menu for the week. Determine together which recipes your child might be interested in cooking. You can discuss whether the recipe needs to be changed, or whether something could be added. Have your child help you decide what ingredients need to be put on the grocery list. If it is not too overwhelming for your child, s/he can accompany you to the store and help you purchase the ingredients you need. Some children may also be interested in having a grocery store scavenger hunt to find the items on the list. Make this experience fun!

Click here to read the rest of this article…

Question:

Since the holidays are coming I’m looking for gift ideas for my two kids with special needs (ages 7 and 11). I want things that will keep them busy but are not electronics. We don’t live in an area with many stores, so can you recommend some online companies that might have good ideas?

Thanks – Janie in Bermuda

Answer:

Hi Janie,

I love to hear that you want to get your kids gifts that will help them grow and don’t involve sitting in front of a screen! Here are some of my favorite sites for gift ideas:

www.fatbraintoys.com
www.blueorangegames.com
www.marblesthebrainstore.com
www.highlights.com
www.mindware.com

I hope you find some great gifts for your kids. Happy Shopping!

Dr. Beurkens

Follow Us:

Upcoming Events

Hear Dr. Beurkens Speak

Upcoming dates and locations where Nicole Beurkens, PhD will be speaking:

Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Practical Strategies to Improve Processing

December 9 in Poughkeepsie, NY

December 10 in Albany, NY

Recommended
Resources

Exploration in Eating

The Information And Resources You Need to Understand Feeding Problems and Expand Your Child’s Food Preferences

More Information >>