Prediction of childrenʹs flavour preferences. Effect of age and stability in reported preferences

The present study investigated whether children were able to communicate stable flavour preferences and whether mothers’ ability to correctly identify their childʹs flavour preferences is related to the stability of their childʹs flavour preferences. On 2 consecutive days, 75 girls and 77 boys (3–10 years, mean age = 7.1 ± 2.3 years) carried out a preference ranking task for five ice-cream flavours: mint, coffee, chocolate and two variants of vanilla. Without input from their child, mothers ranked four of these flavours according to their own understanding of their childʹs flavour preferences. Spearman rank order correlations suggest that older aged children (5–10 years) have more stable flavour preferences than younger aged children (3–5 years) (p < 0.05). Only 39% of mothers were able to correctly predict childrenʹs most preferred flavour, but significantly more parents (61%) were able to predict childrenʹs least preferred flavour (p < 0.05). Mothers’ ability to correctly predict their childrenʹs least preferred flavour seemed to be facilitated by childrenʹs ability to communicate their least preferred flavours in a consistent manner (p < 0.05). It is recommended to apply proper sensory methodologies with children rather than relying on mothers’ report when interested in childrenʹs likes. When interested in childrenʹs dislikes mothers’ report might be suitable.