Nursery World - Dr Helen Coulthard – sensory food play is a 'vital learning opportunity' for young children

Amid rising food prices, Dr Coulthard, a developmental psychologist, says that the cost of using food in sensory play can be kept to a minimum and that the practice actually reduces food waste overall.

Evidence shows that sensory food play and exploration help children develop positive relationships with healthy food. But a patchwork approach to sensory food play in nurseries and preschools means many early years children miss out on this vital learning opportunity. It’s time for this to change.

For the past two decades, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the relationship between children, food and health.

One of my areas of specialism is neophobia: a fear of tasting new things. Research shows that neophobia is linked to limited fruit and vegetable consumption, and with only 18 per cent of children aged between five and 10 currently eating the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day, understanding the factors that drive neophobia is a critical part of my work.

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