How to encourage cutlery use

[madamez]

DS is 3.8, good eater, but would rather eat with his fingers than cutlery. Yes, even when it's baked beans/yoghurt/spag bol. I don't want to turn mealtimes into a battleground but telling him nicely doesn't work and telling him firmly seems to make him defiant.
Basically am I expecting too much at his age anyway?

my ds is 3.1 nad will use cutlery but will still use fingers i have seen children older using mixture of both so im not overly worried still partial to picking food up myself at times

just leave spoon or fork on plate encourage to use them but if eating well i wouldnt worry too much yet if he does pick up food with cutlery praise him for it

sometimes children find it easier than balancing food also quicker too if hungry make dinner smaller and say if you eat some beans with soon i'll give you extra nugget or whatever it is for dinner and lots of praise for being so big

spoon not doing well today too tired

dd is 4.5, and has only really started using fork/spoon rather than fingers without nagging in the last couple of months. And she'll use fingers for chips, pizza etc now. She's always preferred to use her fingers in spite of being very good with her hands in loads of ways - suspect she's impatient to eat and get on with her busy life, as most 4 year olds

That said, she was always quick to use a spoon for favourite puddings, suspect she knew she could get it into her mouth faster that way from early on

I wouldn't worry, just encourage, praise when he does do it, but trust your instincts re not turning it into a battleground.

Thanks folks, that does make me feel better. SOmetimes when I suggest nicely that he uses cutlery he will pick up a chunk of sausage or pasta with his fingers, stick it on the end of the fork and then eat it .
But elegant table manners don't run in eiather side of the family...