Engagement in sensory play in preschool children as a predictor of food acceptance

Abstract

Previous research has shown that parental reports of food neophobia and sensory sensitivity are associated with lower fruit & vegetable (FV) intake in children. This study aimed to pilot a behavioural measure of sensory play in young children. The primary aim of the study was to see whether children’s enjoyment of sensory play could predict children’s FV consumption, as well as child food neophobia scores. Seventy 2–5 year old children and their parents were recruited through children’s centres in the Leicester region. Children’s engagement in two sensory play tasks was rated by both the researcher and parent. Parents were asked to complete a series of questionnaires measuring FV consumption, food neophobia, and sensory processing. The child’s average daily FV consumption, was predicted by parental FV portions, but not sensory play. However, a moderated regression showed that sensory play moderated the relationship between child and parental FV consumption, with children who did not enjoy sensory play being significantly less likely to model parental FV consumption. In addition, sensory play scores significantly predicted child food neophobia scores. A significant difference was discovered in the children’s willingness to try an unfamiliar fruit based on their child food neophobia scores. The findings strengthen the idea that sensory processing may be associated with the acceptance of food variety, but not the total amount of FV consumed. This holds implications for developing sensory play in order to increase children’s fruit range and potentially improve their health. Overall, the findings generated from this study can be utilised to provide a theoretical basis for the promotion of sensory play.