ICE ICE BaBy

Safe play equals trusting relationships

Did you know that Sensory input through safe play can lead to experiencing a new food

Appetite Solutions idea #207

1.  Place ice cubes in warm water. 
What does this do?
The ice cubes change the temperature of the water which in turn the child has to adapt to that change internally. Your brain has been through this change before and locked in what if feels like for the water temperature to change abruptly so you actually  know what it's going to feel like because of that locked in input.  Now your child who may have sensory processing disorder has to experience this type of input over several occasions before it can be locked into their brain.
  
  What your brain already knows you have to teach your child to remember that feeling.  Input from their hands goes through their entire body and each cell is recognized for them so, it takes time after time to adapt and to understand what is happening and to be able to control that sensation with their brain takes many opportunities.   Once that happens then the child is in control of the situation and their brain will act accordingly when seeing the same set up in front of them.  You may begin to talk about it at that time with your child.  You may say things like, "remember the water is warm now and it will turn cold when we put the ice in".  

This simple idea if introduced several times can lead to building up to experiencing a new food.  How you ask.  
Simple:  When the child's brain is trained in this particular adaptation then you may build from this play.  You can introduce pieces of frozen fruit, because now the sensory input will be different for your child.  The frozen fruit will change the temperature of the water which the child's brain is already adapted to and the body will follow through while the brain leads so to speak. (the child will be fine with the temperature change because it's been introduced so many times now that the brain has caught up and is leading the body as it is supposed to do when adapting to temperature changes etc.)  A different sensory input will be experienced with the frozen fruits.  Remember we are playing safe with your child at this time and they are in control and learning to be in control with the new foreign object in the water. Imagine; depending on what fruit you select to drop in the water you already know what it's going to feel like between your fingers but your child doesn't so no instruction is needed just opportunity here.  Once the child gets to experience this adaptation several times then there may be lots of opportunities for your child to smell, touch the fruit to his lips or face, or even taste with their tongue.   

Ahhhh the powers of ice........who knew?.................  I did!