by Brooke Heinz, M.A., SLP | Feeding Specialist
We’ve all heard it: “Don’t play with your food!” But as a pediatric feeding therapist, I’m here to tell you—food play is not only okay, it’s essential.
If you’re raising or working with babies, toddlers, or young children, embracing messy, playful mealtimes can be a powerful way to support feeding development and reduce stress around eating.
Why Food Play Matters
1. Sensory Exploration
Children need repeated, pressure-free exposure to new foods before they feel comfortable eating them. Food play gives them the chance to look at, touch, smell, and even smoosh foods without the expectation to taste. This builds familiarity and reduces fear of the unknown.
2. Building Trust
Pressuring a child to eat can backfire. Structured food play lets children stay in control of the interaction, which builds trust and a positive relationship with food. When kids feel safe, they’re more likely to try new things—on their own terms.
3. Motor Skills Practice
Food play builds both fine motor (e.g., pinching peas, scooping yogurt) and oral motor skills (e.g., mouthing different textures, chewing crunchy foods). These skills lay the groundwork for safe, confident eating.
4. Language and Learning
When you calmly talk about what your child is doing with food—describing colors, textures, actions—you’re supporting language development. Food play also teaches early concepts like sorting, matching, and pretend play.
What Food Play Looks Like at Different Ages
Babies (6–12 months)
👶 Smearing purées, banging spoons, mouthing toast strips.
Toddlers (1–3 years)
🧒 Scooping oatmeal, stacking banana slices, sorting blueberries by size.
Preschoolers (3–5 years)
🎨 Making food art, pretending to cook, decorating toast faces.
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- ✅ Say yes to mess. Put down a splat mat and let kids explore with their senses.
- ✅ Use descriptive language. “That yogurt is cold and slippery!”
- ✅ Focus on fun, not bites. Exploration comes first—eating comes later.
- ✅ Keep it short and sweet. Even 5–10 minutes of food play is valuable.
What About Table Manners?
Some caregivers worry that food play will lead to bad habits. Don’t worry—it’s not forever! Food play is a developmental step, not a permanent routine. As children grow more comfortable with eating, we can gradually shift focus to mealtime structure and manners.
Free Printable: 10 Easy Ways to Play With Food
Click the button below to download a handout full of easy, low-prep food play ideas you can use at home or in therapy sessions.
👉 [Download the Printable PDF]
References
- Coulthard & Sealy (2017)
Research shows that when kids get to play with fruits and vegetables using their senses—touching, smelling, squishing—they’re more likely to taste them.
Appetite Journal - Dailey et al. (2022) – ASHA
Early feeding experiences, especially playful and low-pressure ones, help build long-term positive eating habits.
ASHA Perspectives - Toomey (2010) – SOS Approach to Feeding
A widely used feeding therapy method that starts with just interacting and playing with food—no pressure to eat! https://sosapproachtofeeding.com/start-here-parents/ - Ellyn Satter (2000) – Child of Mine
Ellyn Satter’s work reminds us that kids learn to eat confidently when they’re in charge of how much and whether they eat—and that includes exploring and playing with food first. - American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Sensory play (including messy food play!) supports brain development, regulation, and comfort with new textures.
aota.org - Solid Starts (2023)
This parent-friendly site explains that letting babies and toddlers play with food builds independence, sensory comfort, and motor skills.
solidstarts.com - Zero to Three (2021)
Messy food exploration isn’t bad manners—it’s developmental! This trusted early childhood org says it’s key for learning.
zerotothree.org - The Feeding Flock
Feeding experts emphasize that playful interaction with food supports both sensory and oral motor development.
feedingflock.org - Zimmer et al. (2019)
Therapists are using food play in clinical settings to help kids with feeding difficulties feel safe and confident at mealtime.
(Available through academic publications) - Nederkoorn et al. (2010)
This study supports the idea that kids are more likely to explore and try food when they feel curious, not pressured.
Appetite Journal
Speechy Life 