Feeding Therapy

Nurturing Positive Mealtime Experiences

Feeding therapy to support eating skills, confidence, and comfort with food

At Exploration Kids Therapy, our pediatric feeding therapy helps children develop the skills and confidence they need to enjoy safe and successful mealtimes. We work with children who experience difficulties with chewing, swallowing, picky eating, food aversions, or oral motor coordination. Using a gentle, sensory-based approach, our therapists create individualized plans that build comfort, trust, and independence with food. Through hands-on activities, family coaching, and a supportive environment, we help children explore new foods, expand their diets, and develop healthy, positive relationships with eating.

Why Feeding Therapy Is Important

Builds Safe and Effective Eating Skills

Feeding therapy helps children learn to chew, swallow, and manage different food textures safely and comfortably. These skills support healthy nutrition, independence, and a positive mealtime experience at home, school, and in the community.

Expands Comfort with Foods and Textures

Many children struggle with picky eating, oral aversions, or sensory sensitivities around food. Through gentle, step-by-step exposure and play-based activities, feeding therapy helps children explore new tastes, textures, and routines in a safe and supportive way.

Promotes Confidence and Positive Mealtime Experiences

As children gain comfort and success with eating, they develop confidence and a healthier relationship with food. This progress encourages stress-free mealtimes, supports family connection, and builds lifelong habits that foster growth and well-being.

The Feeding Therapy Process

  1. Initial Consultation & Intake
    Parents meet with a physical therapist to discuss their child’s medical history, movement challenges, and developmental goals. This first step allows us to understand your child’s strengths, needs, and daily routines to tailor therapy services effectively.
  2. Evaluation & Assessment
    The SLP conducts a comprehensive assessment of your child’s speech, language, and communication abilities. This may include evaluating articulation, expressive and receptive language, fluency, voice, and social communication. The evaluation provides a clear picture of your child’s communication profile and guides the treatment plan.
  3. Individualized Treatment Plan
    Based on the assessment, the therapist creates a personalized therapy plan with measurable goals and evidence-based strategies. The plan focuses on helping your child improve clarity, understanding, and confidence while communicating in real-world situations.
  4. Therapy Sessions Begin
    Your child participates in one-on-one or small-group sessions designed to make communication fun and engaging. Activities often include play-based learning, conversation practice, and interactive exercises that encourage progress in speech sounds, language, and social interaction.
  5. Progress Monitoring
    Therapists track your child’s progress toward their goals, adjusting strategies as needed to ensure continued growth. Families receive consistent updates and guidance to support communication development at home and in daily routines.
  6. Ongoing Support & Collaboration

Speech therapy is a collaborative process that evolves with your child’s needs. Our therapists partner closely with families, educators, and other professionals to reinforce skills across environments. Regular re-evaluations ensure therapy remains effective, engaging, and focused on long-term success.

Feeding Therapy FAQ

1. What is pediatric feeding therapy?

Pediatric feeding therapy helps children who have difficulty eating, chewing, swallowing, or trying new foods. Therapy focuses on building safe, positive, and enjoyable mealtime experiences so children can meet their nutritional needs and grow with confidence.

Children who struggle with picky eating, limited diets, gagging, difficulty transitioning to new textures, or anxiety around food may benefit from feeding therapy. A professional evaluation can help determine whether therapy is appropriate for your child’s needs.

The therapist conducts a thorough assessment of your child’s oral motor skills, swallowing function, sensory responses, and feeding behaviors. Input from parents, teachers, and medical providers helps create a clear picture of your child’s feeding challenges and strengths.

Feeding therapy can begin as early as infancy and continue through childhood. Services are tailored to your child’s age and developmental needs — whether learning to accept new foods, improve chewing, or safely transition from tube to oral feeding.

Sessions typically last 30–60 minutes and may occur weekly or more often, depending on your child’s individualized treatment plan and progress.

Yes! Feeding therapy is designed to be playful, supportive, and stress-free. Therapists use positive reinforcement, games, and exploration activities to make food discovery enjoyable and encourage confidence during mealtimes.

Your therapist will track your child’s progress toward feeding goals and share regular updates. You’ll receive at-home strategies to support mealtime routines, food exploration, and continued skill development.

Absolutely. Feeding therapy helps children gradually expand their food variety by addressing sensory sensitivities, oral motor skills, and anxiety related to eating. This approach builds trust and comfort at the child’s own pace.

The duration depends on your child’s goals and progress. Some children achieve success within a few months, while others benefit from ongoing support to strengthen oral motor skills and maintain a healthy relationship with food.

Therapists provide families with practical tools and strategies, such as meal routines, exposure activities, and sensory-friendly food exploration to continue progress at home. Consistency between sessions helps reinforce confidence and positive eating experiences.