Banana

#banana#fruit#snack#healthy

A banana's soft texture and thin strings split children into clear camps, and before that it has to be peeled, a small step in itself. A picture makes the fruit familiar and the step itself visible. Look at the motif just below.

Banana

A yellow banana.

Half-peeled banana

A banana that has been partly peeled, with the yellow skin folded down and the pale fruit showing.

Whole yellow banana

A whole yellow banana with a brown stem, drawn lying in a gentle curve.

Banana angled upwards

A single yellow banana tilted diagonally upwards, its stem in the upper corner.

About this visual support

The banana stirs strong opinions. Some love the soft texture, others are put off by the strings or the feel when it turns too ripe. Add the step of peeling it, and a seemingly simple fruit can become a hurdle in the middle of a hungry moment.

A picture of the banana removes the uncertainty about what is on offer. The child sees the fruit, recognises it and can say yes or no before it is in front of them. Visual support also makes the action itself clear: here is the banana, this is how it looks peeled, and then we eat. The order becomes visible instead of assumed.

A tip: peel one section at a time rather than the whole banana at once, so the soft part is not too much. Let the child pull the next strip themselves, because that small motor action gives both practice and a sense of control. To tie the banana to breakfast or a snack, you can add it to the day's schedule in the Routined app, where meals and pictures belong together.