iOccupationalTherapy.com – Call us: 866-782-9924

What Environmental Factors Affect a Child's Eating?

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L

June 1, 2023

Share:

Question

What environmental factors affect a child's eating?

Answer

  • What is available to a child/family?
  • What sources of nutrition are affordable?
  • What is a child’s experience with tastes?
  • What is a child’s health status?
  • What is the status of a child’s hunger?
  • What social norms dominate a child’s life?
  • What nutritional needs does the child have?

Environmental factors have a role in feeding development. Environmental factors include what is available to a child or a family, affordable sources of nutrition, and the child's experience with taste. We know now that a fetus can taste things within the amniotic fluid based on the mother's diet. Additionally, breast milk has an odor and taste. These factors are going to impact feeding development.

Additionally, we want to look at the child's health status. Is the child well enough to be able to eat and drink? We also need to assess the child's hunger. In atypical feeding development, children may have tubes or alternate of sources of nutrition that are typically delivered on a schedule. For instance, we may feed them every three or four hours, whether they are hungry or not. In terms of normal, typical feeding development, knowing about the status of a child's hunger has much to do with how that develops.

We also need to investigate social norms. Typical feeding development at my house might look a little different at your house. Different foods are offered depending on the child's culture, and some cultures do not use utensils. There are many ways "typical feeding" looks, so it is imperative to be aware of what each child is going to have and why they are in that presentation.

Lastly, what nutritional needs does the child have? This is also going to impact feeding development.

 

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Back to the basics when looking at maladaptive behavior, by Tere Bowen-Irish.


tere bowen irish

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L

Tere Bowen-Irish has been practicing occupational therapy for over 40 years in pediatrics and psychiatry. Tere provides assessment, treatment, and collaborative services in public and private school systems. Through her business, All the Possibilities Inc., she offers workshops for therapists, parents, and educators focusing on service delivery, classroom management, mindfulness, wellness, and prevention for all school-age children. Tere is also the creator of The Drive Thru Menu Suite of Exercises (published by Therapro), an initiative to bring movement into today’s classrooms. She is a certified YogaKids Inc. teacher and incorporates creative movement and yoga into her practice. She is a Certified Mindful Schools Instructor. She is also the author of Yoga and Me, Come be a Tree and co-authored My Mindful Music with Mary Ann Harman.


Related Courses

Back To The Basics When Looking At Maladaptive Behavior
Presented by Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Video

Presenter

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Course: #5825Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Very important information that most people are not aware of'   Read Reviews
Maladaptive behaviors in schools, daycares, or home settings occur every day. Caregivers often overlook some of the most basic components of everyday life that affect behavior, such as inadequate sleep, nutrition, and feelings of safety. Come and learn about ruling out these basic needs when addressing maladaptive behaviors.

Executive Function And Its Application To Occupational Therapy In School Based Treatment
Presented by Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Video

Presenter

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Course: #5826Level: Advanced1 Hour
  'Good information and resources'   Read Reviews
Do you have students on your caseload with organization, emotional regulation, attentional, and judgment challenges? These are just a few aspects of executive function. Our role is to help students access their classrooms, so why not utilize a brain-based approach in our school-based treatment? Join me for some ideas and strategies for best practices.

Insights Into Reaching And Teaching Teenagers, Part 1
Presented by Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Video

Presenter

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Course: #6164Level: Intermediate2 Hours
  'I really liked the examples provided/treatment ideas based on her personal experiences'   Read Reviews
What is happening with teenagers today? There are many myths about adolescence. Come to this 2-part seminar to better understand what neuro-developmental changes are occurring in the teenage brain. As brain transforms into young adulthood, research documents that the brain is pruning itself, to discard what is not interesting or meaningful. There will be an overview of Universal Model of Design in education, to consider a new perspective. From this perspective, our treatment will be more on point and successful.

Teenage Interventions And Helping Teens Build Bridges, Part 2
Presented by Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Video

Presenter

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Course: #6165Level: Intermediate2 Hours
  'Teri is just an amazing speaker and I always love her courses'   Read Reviews
Starting from a perspective of treatment initiatives to engage and connect with those on our caseloads, we will delve into a variety of initiatives. How can we facilitate specialization, self-regulation, executive function and social connectedness? These kids need our help and often not just from a consultative model. Come and be creative, to ignite teenage treatment.

Strong Willed Child Or Oppositional Defiant Disorder?
Presented by Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Live WebinarThu, Jul 11, 2024 at 3:00 pm EDT
Thu, Jul 11, 2024 at 3:00 pm EDT

Presenter

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Course: #6428Level: Intermediate1 Hour
As educators, we may see patterns of arguing, anger, irritableness, revengeful behavior, and defiance. Strong-willed child or something more complex? Does this student sound familiar? This seminar will review causes, risk factors, and comorbid conditions that may add to the mix of reaching and treating this child. Let’s consider how to intervene to rebuild self-esteem and regulation.