Managing Mealtimes

Using Cutlery

What should my child be doing?

We would not expect any child to be able to hold and use a spoon effectively without spilling until 2-2.5 years.

Children usually start stabbing food with a fork when they are 2.5-3 years old and can usually use a fork effectively at 3-4 years old.

Children do not usually start to use a knife and fork together until they are 5-6 years old. It is common at this age to find using cutlery difficult and for them to be messy. At this age, they might revert to using their fingers or ask for help.

If your child is not yet able to use a spoon or fork effectively using one hand, they are not yet ready to learn to use a knife and fork together!

NB: There is no right or wrong way to hold cutlery- if a child is right-handed but finds it easier to hold their knife in the left, this is fine!

Cutlery is available to help learn good hand position, e.g., Caring cutlery with shaped handles. A sticky dot, or a mark on the place where the index finger needs to press down on the knife and fork may be helpful.

When a child is hungry it can be stressful for them to try and use cutlery.  For this reason it can be a good idea to introduce cutlery into play activities or at snack times. 

Consider the mealtime environment

A good stable sitting position makes it easier for children to move and control their hands and arms. This means sitting at a table with feet flat on the floor or surface, their bottom at the back of a chair so that their back is supported and the table at elbow height.