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Hi ,
Following on from my restrictive eating newsletters, I thought it might be helpful to have a discussion about Pica. Pica is an eating disorder that is usually diagnosed when a child over the age of 2 years, consistently tries to eat non-food items such as stones, dirt, soap, chalk, faeces, string (anything and everything really). |
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Hi ,
Following on from my restrictive eating newsletters, I thought it might be helpful to have a discussion about Pica. Pica is an eating disorder that is usually diagnosed when a child over the age of 2 years, consistently tries to eat non-food items such as stones, dirt, soap, chalk, faeces, string (anything and everything really). |
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Pica often occurs alongside autism. Parents and teachers have to be constantly hypervigilant and it can exhausting and anxiety-provoking. Children can also become distressed because the items that they wish to eat are constantly being taken away from them.
The causes of Pica are unknown. Some of the possible reasons for Pica in children with autism are: sensory seeking, not being able to distinguish between edible and non-food items, vitamin deficiency, a calming strategy, to gain attention and to avoid demands.
If your child has Pica here are a few of the commonly recommended strategies that you might like to try if you haven't already:
- Make the environment as safe as possible - I realise this is extremely obvious but it still needs saying. Consideration needs to go into things such as poisonous plants in the garden or school playground and it's suggested that you do a home and school 'audit' to consider all the possible hazards and how risks can be reduced.
- Pica box - see photos at bottom of the page (photos are from Pintrest from Elizabeth Miklozek and D75 Autism - thank you). The idea is that your child has a box of edible items that mimic the texture and appearance of the non-food items that they tend to go for. For example, crushed biscuits instead of sand, raisins and seeds instead of dirt, marshmallow instead of mattress stuffing, rice paper instead of paper, spinach leaves instead of plants, granola instead of rocks, beef jerky instead of bark, love hearts instead of chalk, cookie dough or soft brownie instead of faeces, twiglets and veg sticks instead of twigs etc. You can try to offer the box before you think the child is about to engage in Pica behaviour or once they have picked a non food item up to eat, you can take it away and replace it with an alternative from the box.
- Chew toys - chewing is calming and if this appears to be one of the reasons for eating non-food items for your child, then it could be worth trying a chew toy. My favourite website for chew toys is Tink n Stink. Have a good think about whether your child would prefer an extra tough chew toy or a softer one and a smooth or ridged surface.
- Edible sensory play - having lots of opportunities for sensory play that is edible means that you are not having to say "no, don't eat it" all the time! There are some great edible sensory play ideas from The Handy Hedgehog at the bottom of this email.
- Teach edible and inedible - try to teach your child what is safe and not safe to eat using visuals.
- Alternative calming strategies - if your child is engaging in Pica behaviour as an attempt to self-soothe then try lots of other safer ideas to see if any help. For example: more proprioceptive sensory activities (activities that involve pushing, pulling, jumping, climbing), oral motor activities (e.g. musical instruments, blow painting, blow football, crunching ice), mindfulness/breathing techniques, weighted therapy and deep pressure. See my YouTube channel for demos of all of the above: click here to go to my channel.
- Nutritional supplements - speak to your GP or paediatrician to see if this would be helpful.
I hope that you have found my eating-related newsletters helpful. Next week I'll be emailing you with a priority booking link for my free sensory training. I haven't written my next newsletter yet but I have had requests for advice on therapy ball activities, pre homework sensory activity ideas and advice for children who have difficulties with clothing and haircare. Please keep all your topic requests coming - just reply to my email with your ideas and I'll get around to them all at some point, I promise!
If it's half term where you are then I hope you have some nice family time and that it's not too chaotic or stressful. We're sticking to our safe activities - swimming and bike riding and of course lots of screen time!
Hanna |
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