As Thanksgiving and Christmas get closer, the kitchen fills with interesting sights, smells, sounds, and textures. Cranberry sauce jiggles in a bowl, cinnamon smells warm and spicy, and a cracker makes a satisfying crunch. These everyday holiday moments can give children a relaxed way to get curious about food.
Children may need time to become comfortable with a food before they’re ready to taste it. They might start by noticing it nearby, watching someone prepare it, or moving it with a spoon. Later, they may choose to smell, touch, taste, or eat it. Every child moves at their own pace, and tasting or eating doesn’t need to be the goal. Looking at a food or letting it sit on the table can be a meaningful place to start.
Start with a little holiday curiosity
For Thanksgiving, make a pretend pumpkin patch on a tray. Place a small bowl of pumpkin purée nearby with toy farm animals, leaves, and a spoon. If your child is comfortable with the pumpkin in the room, they might look at its bright orange color or watch you scoop it. They could move it around with a spoon, stir it, or make pretend pumpkin pies. If they’re interested, invite them to notice the smell from a comfortable distance. They might later choose to touch it with a spoon, a fingertip, or a whole hand. There’s no need to move to the next step unless your child is ready.
You can explore pumpkin in different ways. Compare how smooth purée looks next to a pumpkin seed or a piece of cooked squash. Stir the purée and listen to the sound the spoon makes. Smell cinnamon nearby, then notice how it smells after it’s sprinkled into the pumpkin. If your child wants to touch the pumpkin, offer a paper towel or washcloth for wiping their hands. If they choose to taste it, a tiny lick or a small taste from a clean spoon is enough. They can decide what happens next.
A snack turkey can turn familiar foods into a holiday craft. Put a cracker or apple slice on a plate for the turkey’s body, then arrange other foods around it as feathers. Your child might begin by looking at the foods or helping place them with tongs. They can notice which foods smell stronger, which feel smooth or bumpy, and which make a crunching sound when you eat them. If they choose to touch a food, they might tap it with one finger, pick it up, or bring it closer to their nose. A first taste might simply be touching the food to their lips or tongue.
Bring the senses into Christmas play
At Christmas, try making a snack snowman with crackers, banana slices, or mini pancakes. Let your child stack the pieces, move them around, or add familiar toppings for eyes and buttons. You can describe what you notice without asking them to take a bite: “The banana feels soft,” “This cracker makes a little sound,” or “The cinnamon smells sweet.” Your child might smell a topping, touch it with a spoon, or place it on the snowman. If they decide to taste, they can try a tiny bit on its own or paired with a familiar food.
Gingerbread decorating is another activity that can grow with a child’s comfort. Start with a cookie or piece of toast on the table. Your child can look at it, help put sprinkles into bowls, or use a spoon to move frosting around. They might smell the gingerbread, touch a topping with a utensil, or press a sprinkle onto the cookie. If touching food directly feels like too much, a spoon, fork, tongs, or small piece of parchment paper can offer a comfortable in-between step. A child who is ready to taste might lick a tiny bit of frosting from a spoon or try a small taste of a topping.
You can also make a holiday “scent station” with a few safe-to-smell foods, such as orange peel, cinnamon, vanilla, or a piece of peppermint candy held by an adult. Let your child choose what to explore. They might look at an item first, lean closer to smell it, or ask you to move it farther away. Pair the scent with a simple visual or movement game: match the orange peel to an orange picture, roll a cinnamon stick across the table, or place a peppermint beside a holiday-colored toy. Keep tasting separate from the smell activity unless your child shows interest.
Let your child set the pace
There’s no need to turn holiday food play into a test. Instead of asking, “Will you take a bite?” try describing what you notice and leaving room for your child to respond: “The cranberry sauce is shiny,” “The cracker broke in half,” or “I smell cinnamon.” Your child may choose to watch, use a utensil, smell, touch, or taste. They can also say no, take a break, or return to the activity later.
If your child seems uncomfortable, make the activity easier. Move the food farther away or offer a utensil instead of inviting them to touch it with their hands. Keeping the experience relaxed helps your child stay curious and feel more in control.
Offer small amounts of food alongside something familiar. Choose age-appropriate foods and supervise closely, especially when small or firm pieces could pose a choking risk. Follow your child’s allergy guidance and any recommendations from their feeding or medical team. If your child has significant feeding challenges, a feeding therapist can help you choose suitable foods and activities.
Holiday food adventures can be messy, playful, and wonderfully small. Your child might smell the cinnamon, poke the pumpkin with a spoon, or touch a cookie topping before they’re ready to taste it. Each comfortable step gives them a chance to learn about the food and the experience.
At Abil-OT Kids Therapy, we love helping families find playful ways to make everyday routines more welcoming. Wishing your family a season full of connection, curiosity, and joyful little discoveries!