At mealtime, behavior is communication. A child’s behavior communicates how they are feeling about their experience, including whether or not they feel safe. When caregivers are able to learn and understand a child’s cues and communication, trust grows and truly responsive feeding is possible. Effective communication establishes connection, supports the strengthening of relationships between parents and children, and supports a child’s ability to learn and grow at mealtimes.

In this talk, we will discuss the different ways in which both parents and children might communicate how they feel at different stages in the feeding relationship. We will discuss how past experiences influence present readiness for learning at the table, how to use communication to support a child’s self-regulation and participation in sensorimotor learning opportunities, how to repair communication breakdowns at mealtimes, and why prioritizing understanding and connection must be our starting point in feeding therapy. We will also discuss effective communication between professionals and caregivers as a supportive foundation for the therapeutic process.

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe how communication helps establish strong and trusting relationships in support of responsive feeding.
2. Describe how children might communicate at mealtimes at different ages and stages of development.
3. List at least three strategies for repairing communication breakdowns and helping children maintain self-regulation and readiness for learning at mealtimes.
4. List at least three strategies for how professionals can effectively communicate with parents in order to build trust and the therapeutic alliance.

• 15 mins: Overview of communication and responsive feeding
• 15 mins: How experiences and beliefs influence communication at mealtimes and in feeding therapy
• 30 mins: A child’s cues and communication at different ages and stages: infancy, toddlerhood, and beyond
• 15 mins: Helping caregivers understand their children and maintain responsivity
• 15 mins: Repairing communication mismatches and breakdowns at mealtimes
• 15 mins: Case studies (video)
• 15 mins: Q & A