Smell and taste
Signs your child is overstimulated by smell and taste
Some people can be overstimulated by smell and taste. This might mean they may:
- dislike unfamiliar food, tastes, smells
- dislike eating with others
- dislike foods being mixed or touching on the plate
- gag or vomit at smell or taste
- dislike the taste of toothpaste
Supporting a child who’s overstimulated by smell and taste
You can support someone who gets overstimulated by smell and taste by:
- considering the smells in the environment such as a restaurant or school dining hall and pre warning them
- doing calming movements such as stretching or chair push-ups ahead of expecting a trigger smell or food
- considering trigger smells in the environment and where your child is in relation to the smell
- offer opportunities to try food without pressure or expectation such as having a separate plate for new foods
- preparing food together to expose them to handling new food before trying it
- offering choice
- eating together from shared dishes so you as the adult model good eating habits
- messy play with food
- starting with dry foods which are easier to tolerate
- trying different flavoured or non-foaming toothpastes
- accommodating brand preferences
Signs your child is under stimulated by smell and taste
Some people are under stimulated by smell and taste. This might look like:
- liking strong tastes
- sniffing and smelling everything
- being adventurous with food
Supporting someone under stimulated by smell and taste
You can support someone under stimulated by smell and taste by:
- giving opportunities for taste and smell exploration
- doing calming movements such as stretching or chair push-ups ahead of a time where there will be lots of smell and taste opportunities
- offering a variety of food with strong flavours and smells at mealtimes
- offering opportunities for smell and taste throughout the day. This helps to reduce unsafe or inappropriate behaviours
- adding flavour to food
- creating a sensory box of scents
- providing scented pencils, pens and paper