Page 13 | Is teaching children to use cutlery no longer a thing?

Pixieb34 · 2023-08-31T10:05:21+00:00

Genuine question… Do parents of younger children teach them to use a knife and fork nowadays? I’m a parent of older teens and I did, along with general table manners like eating with your mouth closed and waiting for others to start/finish. Am I being old fashioned to think being able to eat food with a knife and fork is a basic skill, or is eating with fingers or just a fork or spoon what’s done nowadays?

00100001 · 01/09/2023 20:32

TheBirdintheCave · 01/09/2023 14:53

@user123212 My son is desperate to learn after watching us. I need to find a toddler set 🤔

That's would take 3 seconds if googling.

Exzact Children's Cutlery Stainless Steel 6pcs Set/Kids Cutlery/Toddler Utensils/Flatware - 2 x Forks, 2 x Safe Dinner Knives, 2 x Dinner Spoons - Engraved Dog Cat Bunny Design, WF850 https://amzn.eu/d/ajgfry7

WeetabixTowels · 01/09/2023 20:42

PinkTonic · 01/09/2023 19:49

Surprised anyone is keeping notes, but if you are referring to the hot potato incident I mentioned, most ‘manners’ have good reasons. The child was 8, stabbing and biting a whole potato is not only ill mannered, she burnt her mouth. Then she dropped the fork and food with a clatter and splashed gravy across the table. If you think that’s ok, fine. I don’t. My children all have an excellent relationship with food, they’re all great cooks and have been capable of making a simple meal since late primary age, which is another very good reason for acquiring knife skills.

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I honestly wouldn’t give a shit. Sometimes kids learn the hard way. She burnt her mouth - so what. I’m sure it healed. But the thought of sending a child away for doing that - it’s just such a dickish move. Be thankful your kids have a great relationship with food (being able to cook doesn’t mean you don’t have food issues though). But a 8yo making a genuine mistake and learning from it - I could never imagine punishing a child for that.

Rosebel · 01/09/2023 21:16

JudgeJ · 01/09/2023 12:02

Children are typically ready around 30 months some sooner some later.

I know that we oldies were totally uninfiormed and should bow down to the superiority of modern mothers but I fail to understand why the vast majority of children were out of nappies by 2 and, shock horror, haven't suffered because of it! Sooner or later there will be a realisation that Pampers etc have created a marvellous money making scheme to keep their ever expanding range of products profitable.

I guess you are super lucky that your children didn't have SEN. I would be thrilled to have my 3 and 1/2 year old out of nappies but you know what? It isn't going to happen.
Perhaps you weren't meaning to be judgemental but I am so sick of encountering attitudes like this.

VestaTilley · 01/09/2023 21:21

We have a 4 year old DS; he uses cutlery and fingers, which we try and cut down on and we’re always saying to eat with your mouth closed, don’t talk with your mouth full and stay seated at the table, ask to get down etc.

We’ll progress to holding cutlery correctly as he gets older. It’s important to me but I accept with some children it can take years, and I don’t want mealtimes becoming a battle ground.

PinkTonic · 01/09/2023 23:35

Rosebel · 01/09/2023 21:16

I guess you are super lucky that your children didn't have SEN. I would be thrilled to have my 3 and 1/2 year old out of nappies but you know what? It isn't going to happen.
Perhaps you weren't meaning to be judgemental but I am so sick of encountering attitudes like this.

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But nobody is being judgemental about children with SEN who by definition find it significantly more difficult to learn than the majority of children of the same age

Stormydayagain · 02/09/2023 07:55

WeetabixTowels · 01/09/2023 20:42

I honestly wouldn’t give a shit. Sometimes kids learn the hard way. She burnt her mouth - so what. I’m sure it healed. But the thought of sending a child away for doing that - it’s just such a dickish move. Be thankful your kids have a great relationship with food (being able to cook doesn’t mean you don’t have food issues though). But a 8yo making a genuine mistake and learning from it - I could never imagine punishing a child for that.

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I like to eat my food red hot. Melted cheese on pizza is my nemesis. I'm yet to learn not to burn my mouth. I think it's too late for me now at 42.

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/09/2023 08:33

Rosebel · 01/09/2023 21:16

I guess you are super lucky that your children didn't have SEN. I would be thrilled to have my 3 and 1/2 year old out of nappies but you know what? It isn't going to happen.
Perhaps you weren't meaning to be judgemental but I am so sick of encountering attitudes like this.

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I don't think anyone is being judgemental about children with SEN but it was certainly the norm in the not so distant past for children without SEN to be toilet trained earlier.