العربية 
Occupational therapy is a medical specialty that aims to help individuals achieve maximum independence in their daily lives. For children, occupational therapy plays a crucial role in developing their basic life skills, including eating.
The occupational therapist aims to help the child develop independent and safe eating skills, by:
- Comprehensive evaluation: The occupational therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your child to identify difficulties he or she is having while eating, such as problems with chewing, swallowing, or controlling saliva.
- Developing an individual treatment plan: A treatment plan is developed for each child based on the results of the assessment, and includes a set of therapeutic activities and exercises.
- Developing sensory skills: The child is trained to deal with different textures and foods, and accept new foods.
- Improving motor skills: The child is trained in the motor skills necessary for eating, such as moving the mouth and tongue and controlling eating with a spoon and fork.
- Parent Training: Parents are trained on how to implement therapeutic strategies at home to enhance the child's progress.
- Collaboration with the care team: The occupational therapist works with the dietitian and pediatricians to provide comprehensive care for the child.
There are many reasons why a child may need to be trained to eat, such as:
- Medical disorders: such as cerebral palsy, autism, or swallowing difficulties.
- Sensory sensitivity: where the child rejects certain foods or textures because he is overly sensitive to them.
- Previous negative experiences: such as choking or vomiting while eating.
- Sensory feeding: Using foods with different textures and colors to stimulate the senses and encourage your child to try new foods.
- Motor skills training: Use games and activities that help develop the motor skills needed for eating, such as blowing trumpets or playing games that require the use of the tongue.
- Behavioral techniques: Use reinforcement and training techniques to encourage positive behavior during eating.
- Modify the environment: Modify the eating environment to make it more comfortable and attractive to the child.
- Improving nutrition: Occupational therapy helps improve the child’s nutrition and provide the necessary nutrition for his growth and development.
- Increased independence: Helps the child become more independent in eating.
- Reducing stress and anxiety: Occupational therapy helps reduce stress and anxiety associated with mealtime.
- Improving quality of life: Occupational therapy helps improve the quality of life of the child and his family.
In short, occupational therapy plays a crucial role in helping children develop eating skills naturally and safely. Through a comprehensive assessment and individualized treatment plan, an occupational therapist can help a child overcome any difficulties they may have with eating and achieve balanced nutrition.
