3yr old eating with a knife and fork

[farewellfigure]

My DS is 4 in March. He has a healthy appetite and eats most things so meal times are mostly fun and happy. We're going to stay with the inlaws over Christmas and my DH is turning meal times into a battleground as DS hasn't mastered the art of using a knife properly. DH is panicking that the inlaws will be shocked.

Surely he's still a bit young to be using cutlery completely perfectly? Yes, I agree that picking up things with his fingers is a bit sticky, but he mostly uses his fork OK for this and does well with encouragement. He just hasn't quite got the hang of pushing stuff on to the fork with his knife so he'll sometimes use his fingers instead (baked beans and peas etc!!).

Anyway, this really is pretty minor stuff but I'd be interested in what other people's kids can manage. Thanks.

If your mealtimes are mostly fun, then I think you are doing fine. DS is 4.2, and he managed to cut up his own food for the first time last week. He still picks up things with his fingers if they are tricky to get on the fork. I think your DH is in danger of making an issue where there isn't, and doesn't need, to be one.