Using cutlery

[Trillian]

Mine would have been about 2.5-3 when they started using proper cutlery properly (say that 10 times LOL) and it would have been a little while after that before they could use a knife properly as well. But some kids are just really tactile and prefer to eat their their hands for whatever reason. My DD2 is like that and there is not a single meal she will eat without using her hands for part of it - picking up vegies or a chop bone etc. It's just the way it is and as frustrating as it is, that's just the way she is. Of course as she's gotten older she isn't messy now, but it's still frustrating for me at times.

[Nai]

Funnily enough at 3.5 DD2 is better than DD1 who is 6.5. DD1 however can deftly use chopsticks but cannot manage a fork and spoon She has started using her knife properly but prefers to eat with her hands most of the time. However I preferred to eat like this too until I was about 10 so maybe it is hereditary?

[OceanPrincess]

I'm a mean mummy - from when they could pick up and try to feed themselves, I expect them to. From when they could understand, we've told them to use them. Now, at 3.5 almost 4, DD knows that if she doesn't use them, she doesn't get her dinner. DS is still a few months off that ultimatum but he does mostly use them.

[~me~]

My DS1 who is 9 would still prefer to eat with his hands. He is left handed and struggles with using the knife. He will eat with a fork most of time and his hands the other. When it gets to the bottom of a bowl pasta, he will ask me if it's ok to use his hands.
DS2 uses a fork for most of the meal.
DD will use the fork more so than the boys.
I encourage it, not enforce it. I explain to them it's fine to eat with your hands at home, when you got to someone elses home, you need to use cutlery...best to keep practising

I admit I am partly to blame in that I cut up their meat for them during serving up.


ETA: They all use a spoon for things like icecream, yoghurt, rice and anything like that.