Chew on this.

Before my next post – on the muscles of the mouth – a little homework for you all.

Get one of these

 

 

or something similar

small, firm but crushable.

Place a single serving between your upper and lower lip|s and draw the food into your mouth without using your fingers.

S.L.O.W.L.Y. chew the food and notice how the food moves or travels in your mouth before swallowing.

How.does.that.happen?

You do it everyday, many times a day and don’t.even.think.about.it.

Repeat if necessary to gain the full wonder and complexity of your mouth.

No wonder the mouth takes-up LOTS of your brain.

Oh, and that swallowing thing – not so easy for some children. Nanaslug explained ‘swallow study’ so well – I linked it into the last post.

Inasmuch as eating is a natural behavior, lots of emotional and social overtones are attached to the intake of sustenance. Like the ‘aaww’ feeling one gets while watching cute animals eating.

This time last year at TherExtras:
Think 'canopy'. 

Comments

[Dad @ kintropy]

Eating is definitely social. When Hannah was at preschool (now moving to kindergarten), she joined all the kids at the lunch table. We'll ignore the one OT that wouldn't let her put anything (even utensils) in her mouth. She wanted to be included, watch everyone, and jabber away like her peers.

[Tammy and Parker]

Yet another post of yours I need to print out.

Thanks!

And.....I have the bare bones of the 5MFSN blogroll up.....you wanna take a peek and make suggestions?

I can send you the link via email.

[Mother Mayhem]

VERY interesting.

I know all about the emotional side of eating. ;o)

[Stephanie Nance]

I was in the process of commenting on your last post when my internet access died on me. Anyway, about the emotions and feeding...I had a CT Scan last week and nearly FELL APART when they told me afterward that I couldn't nurse Ruby for a few days!! I recall secretly cursing (not very Christian, I know) the NICU doc that said Ralph would probably have problems nursing and wouldn't let me even try. I was SO satified with myself when I brought a little syringe of milk into the NICU, on the sly, so he could at least have a tiny taste!

So, anyway, after the CT scan and my wasted day (the whole day!) sitting in the minor emergency office I HAD to eat some ice cream, right? Oh yeah.

[MiaHysteria]

Sometimes, okay most times, I wish there was no emotion attached to eating. It would make eating healthy so much easier!

[The Barbara who lives here]

In reverse order....

Yea, Mia, healthy eating seems to be more on the cognitive side, while choosing what FEELS good to eat has the emotional component.

Which starts VERY early - babes nursing starts an emotional connection that can cause distress if disrupted for even a day - you said it effectively, Stephanie. Ice cream makes me feel better, too.

I suspect Mother Mayhem knows the good feelings of ice cream, too, eh?

Woohoo! Printing my posts!? Tammy, you flatter me. Thanks!

Boo! on liability regs that restrict therapists in their work settings, Dad @ Kintropy. Yeah! for Hannah joining in the social atmosphere of the lunch table.

I'm thinking on ways to help those children who do NOT get good feelings from eating - get some good feelings from eating.

In the meantime, are y'all doing your homework?

[starrlife]

Why is it so much fun to watch cute animals eat? I love that video. Silly huh? I know that parents really focus on when their child can start solids and sometimes it feels like they push too hard. But I'm going over and read that post of swallowing! Thanks.

[Janette@kintropy]

Hannah has learned to eat several times it is a long and drawn out story but, we are working on it again.

Hannah is into doing the finger painting with food right now. She is interested in what I eat so I always let her try. But she always puts a spoon in her mouth to let us know she knows where goes.

[The Barbara who lives here]

I know what you mean, starrlife - being concerned about parents pushing a particular developmental skill (more than we would ourselves). That happens with other skills as well. I think that when a parent focuses on a particular skill - like potty training - the drive can come from the parent's needs. Not bad. Just potentially the wrong motivator.

Thank you for sharing that Hannah's eating skills have been interrupted, Janette. Your and her Dad's persistence is encouraging other parents to not give-up.

[JoyMama]

That banana-eating bunny is going to be in for some fierce diarrhea... and I'll probably be humming that "num num num" song all afternoon!