how do I persuade 18 month old to feed himself with a spoon

[KleineMaus]

DS is 18 months and shows no interest in feeding himself with a spoon (or fork). If I let him loose with the bowl and spoon he just wades in with his hands. He's a really good and adventurous eater so I don't want to turn mealtimes into any kind of battleground. I don't know if most other kids are feeding themselves by this age. I'm starting to worry I've missed some kind of window for these things. Someone told me recently her ds had never learned to use a spoon, it was all they could do to get him to eat full stop, and he's four!

handling cutlery can be tricky, and his fine motor skills are probably not yet totally developed.
Maybe give him some toddler spoons etc, but it does seem alot to expect at such a young age.

And regarding the four year old, its not too late to learn to use a spoon

My ds is still not very adept at using a spoon & fork and he is 2. I think it just comes easier to some children than others.

You don't persuade them, they kind of do it when they're ready.

Always give him a spoon, let him just hold one while you're feeding him. Let him see you eating with a spoon. and be patient.

Oh, and get into the habit of getting up to leave him for a minute or two half way thru a meal. When he wants the next mouthful, he might just scoop it in.

Don't panic tho'

I think I'd be saying to the 4 year-old, "you don't use the spoon, you don't get the yoghurt/ice cream/mousse"

There is no 'age' for kids to do anything I don't think!! dd1 spoon fed herself from about 12 months, dd2 is 18 months and still wades in with both hands (and sometimes her face like a dog!!!) She can scoop food up or stab it with a fork, but she then tips it upside down on its way to her mouth so she gets frustrated and goes back to the old hands!! The frustrating part for me is dd1 watching her now uses her hands again too!!!
I just give them both a spoon and fork with dinner and let them get along with however they want to eat. Plenty of praise for eating their dinner at all and extra for using utensils and just happily ignore anything in between!! (Oh and flannel on the side ready for clean up!!)