Introducing Brave Bites: A Little Bite at a Time to Help Children Build Confidence

Meal times are opportunities to connect and have fun. However, many families find this time to be challenging. Is your child having a tough time with new foods? Thera+Kids is here to offer gentle, encouraging support.

We are excited to introduce Brave Bites, a new therapeutic feeding group that runs for 6 weeks. This program is designed for children from 4 through 7 years of age, with swallowing and/or feeding challenges. Whether your child struggles with texture sensitivity, a limited food routine, or mealtime overwhelm, Brave Bites offers a fun, gentle space for them to build curiosity, confidence, and calmness around food.

Let us look at what makes this program different and how it might help your child and your family together.

What is Brave Bites?

Brave Bites is not just another feeding group. It is a carefully thought-out therapeutic program that fosters a safe, fun, and pressure-free relationship with food. Over six weekly sessions (each 75 minutes long), children will have the opportunity to:

• Engage in sensory food play

• Practice their oral motor skills

• Prepare simple food along with their peers

• Simulate a group meal

• Celebrate every little step with smiles and encouragement.

Our mode of intervention is gentle, individualized, based on trust, and consistency. We believe every child deserves success in their own way, at their own pace.

Why Choose Brave Bites?

Children explore their world through all their senses—and that includes tasting! While some kids find this thrilling, for others, it can be an overwhelming experience. That's why we created the Brave Bites group. We meet children exactly where they are, offering gentle, empathetic guidance with no pressure or force, helping them navigate their relationship with food.

So, what makes Brave Bites so special? Our highlights are:

• An Expert-Led Program: The program is co-led by two Speech-Language Pathologists, Allison and Olivia, who share deep expertise and warmth in every session. Allison specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing, while Olivia has years of experience working with neurodivergent children on early communication and sensory needs.

• Child-centred and Backed by Science: Every activity is purposeful and rooted in best practices. From visual schedules to taste rating scales, we use tools that help children feel prepared, supported, and celebrated.

• No Pressure, All Fun: Kids are never asked to eat anything they're not ready for. We model, explore, and have fun together instead. We trust their curiosity will grow in an environment where children feel safe and are acknowledged.

• Thoughtful Food Choices: All foods offered are minimally processed, allergen-free, and selected with care. We focus on familiar, approachable ingredients that support positive exploration.

What Happens in a Session?

Every Brave Bites session follows a consistent routine to help children feel relaxed and in control. The more predictable something is, the more trust will form, and when children trust, they will feel open to trying new things.

Here is a glimpse of the weekly format:

• Welcome, and Visual Schedule Review: The children are welcomed into the group and presented with the child-friendly visual agenda for that day.

• Sensory Food Play Activity: Children use playfu,l hands-on exploration with foods in a safe and fun way.

• Recipe Review and Food Preparation: Children work together to prepare a simple recipe that encourages interaction with ingredients and real-world cooking skills.

• Simulated Meal Practice (Optional Tasting): The group shares a snack with no pressure on tasting, just mild encouragement by peer and adult modelling.

• Celebration and Sticker Time: Each child's accomplishments are celebrated with reflections and stickers for their recipe book.

• Caregiver Debrief: While children finish their activities, caregivers will begin connecting with our team to receive updates, home strategies, and session summaries.

What will Caregivers Receive?

We know how important it is to support caregivers, too. As part of the Brave Bites program, caregivers receive:

• Weekly visual agendas to help you prepare your child for each session

• Simple recipes to try at home, aligned with weekly goals

• Progress updates and tailored strategies explained by caregiver debriefs

• Tools and tips for creating calmer, more successful mealtimes at home

Our goal is to partner with you every step of the way—to help make food feel a little less stressful and a lot more joyful.

Is Brave Bites Right for Your Child?

Brave Bites is a great fit for children who:

• Eat a limited number of foods

• Feel sensitive to textures, odours, or temperatures

• Feel nervous and overwhelmed with new foods

• Have difficulty sitting at the table for meals

• Show signs of oral motor challenges or chewing difficulties

• Benefit from structured support and routine

Brave Bites welcomes children of all abilities. We give special consideration to neurodiverse kids, those with feeding or swallowing difficulties, or kids with sensory sensitivities. Feel free to reach out to us if you are uncertain about whether your child would fit in this group- we would love to talk about it and help you make a decision.

Our Commitment to You

Thera+Kids understands that feeding a child is much more than just nutrition—it involves bonding, emotions, regulation, and growth. Therefore, we developed Brave Bites to be more than a program. It is the shared journey that honours your child's unique story and celebrates every brave step forward.

We walk with you, offering inspiration, tools, and encouragement. Always respecting the child's voice, needs, and wishes for comfort.

Our team is here to listen, adapt, and provide guidance in a considerate and purposeful manner, so children feel respected, safe, and celebrated.

Join the Brave Bites Experience Now!

If mealtimes seem stuck, stress-ridden, and often filled with struggles, know that it can get better. Children have curiosity, and with the right assistance, that curiosity can blossom.

Brave Bites acts as a small and joyful step toward supporting that journey.

Visit www.thera-kids.com to register or find out more

Questions? Just give us a call at 437-880-9607, email us at admin@thera-kids.com, or book your appointment directly through our Jane booking page — we’re here to help!