Hi Mamas!
I have a 3-year old (boy) and a 2-year old (girl) and my son will NOT use his utensils all the time and now since my daughter is a copycat, she's starting the same bad habit. He was really good about it at one time but now I catch him grabbing out the noodles in his chicken noodle soup by hand (and I cut them up so that they are easier to spoon out).
Does any one have any ideas on how to get him to use his utensils more often? Or has anyone found that it's just a phase and then he'll go back to using them again?
Thank you for your thoughts and for your time.
Thank you all for your wonderful advice. I'm just happy to know that it too happens with other children. I will ask him to use the utensils but I'm not going to make a huge deal over it. I figured it could very well be just a phase. Since he's really excited about starting preschool I do mention that when he goes to school that they will want him to use his utensils and not his hands. I can see his little brain really thinking about that and he a lot of times will pick up the fork or spoon and use it for a while.
Again, you all are such great support!
Hi, it might sound simplistic, but rewards for positive behaviors are huge. Even if it's just a sticker on a board....
I bought my son some really colorful utensils and he loves to use them. Try some utensils that will interest him. Maybe even a little set of dishes.
Hi,
i have a son who is almost two. he has used silverware since he first started eating solid foods at one year. now even tho he will use them, he will decide when he feels it's the right time to use them. one day he will eat his noodles with a spoon and the very next day he will use his fingers. i find that the best advice is also to let it be. as for your daughter let it be with her too. encourage them but don't push them. the more we push them the more they wanna do it their way :). kids!!! lol
Hello there - just remember, although you've got two children younger than the three-year-old, in many families the three-year-old would be the baby - don't expect him to be a big kid. I help feed my five-year-old still, otherwise he reaches for his food with his fingers. Of couse you can gently encourage him to use his spoon - I guess at mealtimes he can't get too much help because of the other two - but it seems to me that if he's eating by himself he's doing a pretty good job. If you're feeding them soup, couldn't you put one spoonful in each mouth in turn - chicken noodle soup is pretty hard to get in. Anyway, my message is be very patient with your very small child - good luck - Alison
I agree, it will come in time, they are all still so young. Keep encouraging them to use them. I also wanted to add, my children like to eat soup out of those cereal bowls with the built in straws. They drink the broth out of the straws and then can get to the noodles alittle bit easier.
All I can say is he will eventually. My youngest kids (4 and 2) are the same way. They are pretty good about using them right now, but it comes and goes. And you can bet that the little one will copy every time! Just keep offering the fork and spoon and they'll master it!
Hi Tyra!
My son is 3, and I just took him for his 3 year check up. I talked to his doctor about the same exact problem. My son has been using silverware for at least a year, and has also given it up. Our doctor told us it is totally normal, and not to even mention it to him. It is a phase and the less we pay attention to it, the quicker he we grow out of it. He told us at 3 they love to do anything for a good reaction out of a parent. Hope this helps. I too can't wait to get back to eating like a human again!
sometimes children have a hard time with regular silverware as their tastes are changing and the are trying new foods, try giving your child smaller silverware, as well as regular silver ware.you can find smaller silverware at the dollar store s , discovery tos, tupperware and novelty dishes in the same aisle as the regular silverware. also normally plastic siverware is normally smaller in size. the smaller sizes list above helps the child develop the finer motor skills needeed to handle regular adult sise silverware.
im a mom of the adult boys grandma to a 4year old girl 3year old girl also a retired headstart preshool teacher .
D.
Gently encourage more grown-up ways of eating, but this may take awhile. Hopefully, they will not still be doing this at their wedding receptions! As the saying goes - This too shall pass!
