Free guide for parents
Supporting Body Regulation Before Mealtime
Does your child resist coming to the table, or struggle to stay seated once they get there? Their body may need a little help getting ready to eat. This free guide gives you a simple Move, Calm, Eat routine to try before meals and snacks.
Does this sound familiar?
Many children eat best when their bodies feel calm, organized and ready. A few minutes of the right activity before a meal can make a real difference.
Take a peek inside
Simple routines you can start before your next meal
Tap any page to see it up close.
What you'll learn
A calmer start to every meal
- 1What regulation is, and why it matters before meals
- 2The simple Move → Calm → Eat routine
- 3A quick check-in to choose movement or calming
- 46 movement activities to wake up the body
- 56 calming activities to help your child settle at the table
- 6Other habits that help: a predictable routine, a steady schedule and a calm table
This guide is for you if…
- Your child is 2 or older and has trouble coming to or staying at the table
- Your child seems wound up, tired or all over the place before meals
- You want simple ideas that use what you already have at home
- You'd like meals to start calmer
Argie Karakalpakidis, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD, CLC
Founder, Kids Feeding Wellness · Practicing since 2018
Pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist helping families understand why feeding may be hard — and what to do about it.
“A regulated body is a body that’s ready to eat. A few minutes of movement or calm can change the whole meal.”
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Send me the free guideWant a predictable plan for meals and snacks? The Mealtime Rhythm Kit builds on this guide.