Incorporating one's interest is a way to add (or increase) motivation for a child, adolescent, or adult to engage in a less preferred task (i.e., sitting at the table to eat).
Below is an example of a way one child was encouraged to sit at his kitchen table to eat. This child loved "Spiderman"... so... by using a Spiderman placemat to indicate "where the food was placed and remained" ... the child was "drawn to" the table in this situation.... due to Spiderman & his snacks. (Also, the placemat was not a toy, but a visual support of where to go and have snacks, drinks and meals.)
Also..... this particular scenario was set up in stages... first, this child used a choice board of preferred foods/drinks. The cards below were shown to the child... he was physically guided to the table with the new placemat. When he sat down, a small portion of his snack or drink was placed on the table. (A small portion was given at first because the child usually took the whole snack away from the kitchen.) By using a small portion at first, this encouraged him to associate sitting at the table with eating. It made the session last. So... sitting at the kitchen table became very reinforcing.
Below is an example of a way one child was encouraged to sit at his kitchen table to eat. This child loved "Spiderman"... so... by using a Spiderman placemat to indicate "where the food was placed and remained" ... the child was "drawn to" the table in this situation.... due to Spiderman & his snacks. (Also, the placemat was not a toy, but a visual support of where to go and have snacks, drinks and meals.)
Also..... this particular scenario was set up in stages... first, this child used a choice board of preferred foods/drinks. The cards below were shown to the child... he was physically guided to the table with the new placemat. When he sat down, a small portion of his snack or drink was placed on the table. (A small portion was given at first because the child usually took the whole snack away from the kitchen.) By using a small portion at first, this encouraged him to associate sitting at the table with eating. It made the session last. So... sitting at the kitchen table became very reinforcing.