In the post, we are sharing Gustatory Sensory Ideas for Kids. Sensory processing is the neurological process that organizes the sensory information received from its own body and environment allowing for effective interaction and response.
Sensorial processing is the relationship between the brain and behavior.
In other words, the sensorial gustative system is the sense of taste. It is a complex system that begins with food entering the mouth where it comes in contact with the tongue.
Those little bumps that are covering your tongue are called the papilla. And this is also linked with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
The papilla has several taste buds made from taste cells. These cells interact with chemical structures that activate nerve impulses which send signals to the brain stem, then to the brain’s gustatory cortex. It helps us to distinguish safe from unsafe foods.
The sensory taste is not the same as what we consider to be a “taste”. The flavor is the combination of taste and smell (olfactory and gustative) sensations evoked by a substance in the mouth as described. It is therefore important to understand that a sense of smell plays an important role for taste-sensitive children.
The proprioceptive sensory system (chewing pressure) and the touch sensory system (texture) can also affect how a child treats food.
Different from the taste system, they can play an important role by working together on how your child will treat food.
Five main tastes are mentioned below:
- Sweet
- Sour
- Bitter
- Salty
- Savory
When evaluating sensory treatment, it is important to remember that children may have symptoms or characteristics of treatment issues. It does not become a disorder until the symptoms become severe enough to affect the normal activities of the child’s day and interfere with daily life.
When a child is experiencing serious difficulties with gustatory processing, please consider advice from an experienced occupational therapist who specializes in gustatory sensory dysfunction. Your child may require food therapy or oral activities as part of a ‘sensory diet’ to perform and be monitored.
Gustatory Sensory Ideas for Kids
The following strategies are appropriate for most students, particularly those with sensory problems. Each strategy can be adapted to complement the students’ curriculum and individualized education plan. Keep in mind that these are just some examples of gustatory sensory activities that can be incorporated into various classroom lessons and activities.
Experimenting with temperature:
- Comparison of frozen ice cubes and fruit to water and fruit at room temperature.
- Comparing conditions of matter, e.g. raw egg to cooked egg
Experimental with the texture:
Comparison of chewy, crispy, dry, soft and moist foods.
Sucking and blowing activities:
- Blowing bubbles
- Sucking and blowing paint or colored water from straw
- Use of specific music instruments, e.g. the recorder
- Blow paper football or quill.
Some Other Activites:
- Sniff and describe the smell without using sight.
- Blowin’ up balloons, man.
- Blowing bubbles
- Chewing gum
- Suck yummy lollipops or popsicles
- Draw something with smelly markers
- Drinking from a straw-especially thick liquid like smoothies
- Blog a cotton ball by straw and turn it into a run.
- Have your child help you cook for scents and tastes.
- The vibrating toothbrush provides an extra proprioceptive input and may help calm.
- Practice whistling songs, make everyone guess which song.
- Make sure you use non-toxic flavors to boost confidence.
- Introduce food to new ways, including textures, temperature, etc. Your child may prefer a dried cherry rather than a fresh cherry due to its different texture.
- Using a straw, blog bubbles in the tub or in a washbasin. Watch them grow up!
- Playing with sensory dustbins can help introduce different textures, odors, etc.
- Incorporate crisp or crispy snacks during the day.
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