How I use role-play in a feeding therapy session

Role Play

✨Role play is so incredibly valuable in a feeding therapy session. Play speaks in the language of children and meets them where they are at. I can enter their world without expecting them to behave in my adult world. Plus, it’s makes for a really fun session!

In 1978 Vygotski proposed that make-believe play fostered cognitive, social and emotional development in children.

Role play allows children to:

🍑 Reenact social situations they have seen or experienced.

🍑 Practice participating in these situations without any real consequences and in the safe confines of play

🍑 Begin to feel comfortable and familiar with different situations and social roles.

Playing shops, cafes, mums and dads, schools or picnics allows a child to handle and manipulate pretend food without any pressure to eat or taste. It helps me build a trusting relationship with the child and allows me to observe their body language and reactions to certain situations. It also segues beautifully into touching, tasting and eating new, real foods.

After playing cafes with my 2.5yr old this morning I found her happily pottering around the toy kitchen independently. Chattering (using appropriate language), pouring coffee (dexterity and manipulation of utensils) and pretend eating and drinking (more fine and gross motor skills). She was even sharing her food with her soft toys 🦄 (practicing social skills and manners). Then we had a real snack and we took turns having bites with the toys 🧸

Play is truly magic 🪄