18 month old has no ability with cutlery, an open cup, crayons.

[noskill]

At all. Even a bit. I don't know where I've gone wrong. He seems so behind in these areas compared to all his playmates. I know they don't do it all the time, or neatly, or very well, but my son can't do any of it at all.

I noticed every single child at the table at playgroup today could drink their juice from an open cup without handles. My son refuses to attempt it. He won't join in with the arty stuff, won't keep a pencil/crayon in his hand longer than 5 seconds except to put it in his mouth. Has never scribbled. Cutlery is ignored.

What do I do? Where do I start?

SilverFrog knows what she's talking about.

Milestones are there for a reason. If he's not meeting a lot of them, then you should talk to your GP or HV.

Otherwise just keep an eye on things for now.

DS is just coming up for 2 and only got the hang of an open cup about 5 weeks ago... He can use cutlery fine (thanks to being in creche full time). Scribbling-wise, he didn't really start showing an interest in holding crayons to paperuntil he was about 21 months. So,I seriously wouldn't worry. If your DS is anything like mine, he'll be doing other stuff well - my DS understands far more than some of his peers, follows instructions incredibly well and is really good at concentratingon activities like books or Duplo. All kids are different, so definitely try not to compare....

My DS is almost 17 months & not v interested in crayons at all. I bought him a small chalkboard & some chalks & he's far more interested in them! I think the contrast is greater so it's more obvious that he's made marks, so he's more interested.

Nursery noted his lack of interest in crayons or painting (well, he refuses point blank to even entertain a paintbrush). When they're doing a group painting activity they tend to end up painting his hands & doing handprints, which he will do amidst lots of grumbling. They told me they're not concerned at all - he will do the odd handprint, but more importantly he'll make marks on his plate/table with food & water. They said any marks are great, even if they're made in pasta sauce!

Also, we were failing miserably with independent spoons. I started giving him a fork & he finds that much easier as he can stab things so they stay on.Lots & lots of encouragement & praise was needed though! After a couple of weeks with the fork we tried a spoon with some fromage frais (less runny than yoghurt!) & he then quickly got the hang of that too. Also, he will only tolerate metal cutlery, not plastic.

Does your DS go to nursery? I've found them v helpful when it comes to development issues. Failing that, my Sure Start centre do play sessions for 1-2 year olds where the HV is present - nice, informal way of raising any issues, do you have anything like that?

My DS is also 18 months. Re the cutlery, it's only with weeks and weeks of giving him a spoon/fork with his dinner that he is approaching anything like dexterity now, and I would say that 10% is still on the floor/him and 20% is eaten with his fingers. Although strangely a delicious Vaalia yogurt can be sucessfully spooned in with nary a drop spilled

But honestly, he's been having a fork for about 6-8 months and he really is only getting the hang of it now, consistently.

As for crayons, at first they were straight into his mouth, but I persevered, and after about a month of using them for short (5 min) bursts, he now rarely puts them in his mouth and can draw a circle and a swirly line and the first thing he asks for in the morning is crayons, so worth keeping going unless he doesn't actually enjoy it.

Open cup - no way. He just plunges his fist into it/pours it out immediately. He will only do it if I (or preferably his dad) holds it for him.

My DS 19 months sounds very similar to Ozziegirly. He also likes stabbing things with a fork. I have been trying cutlery for a good 6 months with very little joy (he prefers playing with it and his food). The spoon sometimes gets something in depending on what the food is... But still prefers his hands by a long way. I try to keep his hands out the bowl (he can use his hands for food on his tray or a plate) and put the fork or spoon in the bowl rather which worhe understands nicely now, but I do end up feeding him most things he can't get with his hands or fork (eg. rice crispies!)

Not much interest at all in crayons although I have seen him make the few odd marks, more with pens though. He is more interested in throwing them on the floor! I don't think he is too interested in drawing right now.

Open cup, yep, exactly, he'll drink it if I help him hold it, otherwise he puts his hands in it or pours it on the floor and plays with it

How’s your little one doing ? My DD 17 months can’t build towers and I am very worried

My 21 month old can't drink out of an open cup, just want to throw it everywhere 🤣 also no chance of him using a spoon either yet. He's very funny about getting food on his hands, saucy stuff, has a proper freak out. So I'm just persevering and figure he he'll get there when he's ready😅 the only crayons he uses is the bath ones, though do have to make sure they don't go in his mouth😁