Four Ways to Bolster Your Child to Help Them Try New Foods
What makes you feel fearful?
Is it going to the dentist?
Or, having blood drawn?
Flying?
The idea of taking up skydiving?
Public speaking?
Whatever it is, facing our fears takes guts. It can require a pep talk or a coach. It might take a deep breath or a vote of confidence from someone we love. It can require a big pay-off to make it worthwhile, or a shift in mindset to move from avoidance of that experience to diving in.
The Fear of Trying New Foods
When we ask kids to eat new foods, we are asking them to do something that can be fearful. We’re asking them to step out of their comfort zone and taste something they’ve never had. The experience could be bitter, sweet, sour, or otherwise. It could make them gag or cough. At worst, it could cause them to vomit. It’s a leap of faith, and it takes bravery. And you know what? It may take a change in mindset for them, too!
So, how do we support kids with making this shift? How do we take their focus off of their fears and entice them to experience the excitement and pride of trying something new? Today, we are talking about 4 ways to do just that.
4 Ways to Help Them Be Brave
1. Give fears only the amount of time and space they deserve.
When your honey shows worry or fear around trying something new, you can take note of it, but try to spend less of your attention and time responding to their worry. If, for example, your child shows worry about something new on their plate, and you rush-in to talk to them about it or remove it – this could fan their fear. Instead, you might notice aloud, “Yes, you have something new on your plate today. You’re getting your body used to something different. We can remove it in just a sec.” Then, calmly approach your child to help them. This latter approach shows your child the size of the problem. If this was a BIG PROBLEM, you would rush in to protect your child. This is a small problem, so, you want to respond in kind.
2. Keep your own worry in check.
Seeing your child face their fears can be challenging. It’s normal to feel anxious about how they might respond. …And, your child may sense this. If you approach a new situation for your child with uncertainty, this can cause them additional stress. If your child thinks you are worried about the broccoli on their plate, then they are going to feel worried about it too. Just imagine their thought process: If mom’s worried, then this must really be something scary! Come to the situation with a plan – and maybe even a soothing mantra – to help you approach this new adventure for your child with confidence.
3. Give your child visual reminders of what they can do or say for success.
Just like you might need a plan or a mantra to be successful, your child may too. You can make this visual by drawing your child successfully doing what you’ve asked (e.g., sitting nicely at the table for their meal instead of on the couch, touching a new food on their plate, etc.) and make the picture available on the table for them to see.
Write confident remarks on a placemat and recite them with your honey as they eat their meal. These could be things like, “I’m good at trying new things,” “I am a very brave kid,” or reminders of other new experiences they’ve had in which they felt successful, “I learned to ride my bike – even though it was hard at first!”
4. Give your child superhero accolades.
You’re asking your child to try new foods or mealtime experiences. If they rise to the occasion, despite their fear, and show bravery – in big ways or small ways – be ready to reward them with a badge of honor, a cape, or even their favorite stuffie. Show them that you (and their teddy bear or action figurines or My Little Ponies…. Whomever!) are there to recognize their heroic efforts. Once your child has followed-through, shout it from the rooftops! Brag about it to grandma and grandpa, the neighbors, and anyone else who will listen. Talk about your child’s bravery and just how capable you know they are. Emphasize that they are someone who tries new things, and that they are good at facing their fears.
Stepping up to try something new takes courage, yes, but practice also goes a long way. Help your child practice trying new things bravely using these 4 ideas shared today. Then, write me a comment to tell me how it went!
Related Resources:
4 Book Recommendations
A truly wonderful book that can help you better understand childhood fears and how to help your child be brave:
2. Another good read on children’s fears and anxiety:
3. A wonderful resource that you can read WITH your child. This book will help you create a plan together for facing your child’s worries:
4. This last book is one I haven’t read yet, but it’s on my reading list because I’ve heard great things about it. It also has fantastic ratings on Amazon. I can’t wait to dive into this one!
