What age to start using knife?

[kersh33]

My nearly 5 year old is a very good eater. She eats neatly with a fork and spoon and occasionally uses a knife to cut fairly soft food up like omelette. However using a knife is still a bit of struggle, particularly with coordinating with the fork.

As I don’t have a lot of similar aged children around, what is a normal age to start using a knife regularly and when should I start insisting a bit more for her to use it rather than cutting up food (especially meat which can be tough to cut).

I think by 5 most DC can use a knife, maybe with a bit of help of they really need it?

Would you give them a sharp knife by that age? As the toddler knives are no good for cutting up tough foods so it would have to be a sharp knife which I’m still a it reluctant to do.

It’s perfectly normal for a 5 year old to cut their food themselves but also sometimes need help cutting certain things. Don’t worry.

I always offer my 1 year old a toddler knife with dinner. He can't use it properly but he attempts, I think as soon as you can. Especially if they are 5!

A normal knife you would use as an adult to eat or a sharp knife you would use for a steak?

Normal cutlery knife 3/4 mine started using them, streak sharp knife closer to teenage years

My DS has been using a knife and fork since 3yrs for soft things like scrambled egg, French toast. He is 8yrs now and uses a knife and fork for every meal but will ask for help if stuck ie steak etc

Table knives aren’t really sharp? They certainly won’t do any damage if they’re not being super silly.

My 5yo knows how to use a knife, but is a bit inconsistent with it.

I would wait until your 1 year old is older to reassess this. OP’s child does use a knife, just not all of the time. It’s normal and natural for children to still mostly use a fork and their fingers at the age of 5 and to find knives fiddly unless for soft foods.

My 3yo can use a knife and fork like he’s at the Ritz. My 7yo eats like she’s been raised by wolves and just can’t seem to grasp it. So ime it’s largely based on the individual’s skill.

I’m sorry but a 5 year old should be fairly competent with a knife by now.

DD has had a knife since 2 and used one properly from 3+. Nursery worked on correct cutlery use and it was part of school readiness.

DD uses a proper steak knife (supervised) at 5.

The knives we have are serrated and quite sharp. Maybe I need to get a slightly less sharp knife for her to use. She can use a knife and does when the food is soft enough to be easy but maybe with a sharper knife she would find it easier.
I appreciate the insights, it does look like I maybe need to push her to use the knife more often.

Mine start cutting bananas using knife and fork around 24 months. I expect knife and fork for food by 4 but give sooner.

Have a look at Nana's manners cutlery.

I disagree why don't you think most 5 year olds can use cutlery properly? I think eating at tables and real food not just pasta, burgers etc helps.

I would say that she is not quite 5 yet. She does use cutlery really well - she has pretty much never dropped food on the floor or down herself even when she was weaning. She just struggles with cutting up tough foods like meat but sounds like I just need to get a sharper knife and push her a bit harder.

Because I worked with children for years and parenting had little impact on this. The OP’s child is perfectly normal: uses a knife for soft foods, needs a hand with trickier things.

This is fine at 5 years old. She’ll get there no bother soon enough. She’s not eating directly off her plate like a dog.

She’s doing fine OP. It’s nothing to stress about or push her. Have a sharper sedated knife available for her to try. She’ll get there just fine.

Thank you - will have a look!

I've done over 30 years. On the op first post she didn't say child used knife for most foods that was later.

I’m sorry, is this a competition about who’s worked with children the longest? I’ve worked with children for 20 years and this is my experience.

I didn’t say the OP’s child used a knife for most foods, I said she uses one for softer foods and needs help with tricker food which is normal for her age. The OP states exactly this in her very first post. She also said her child finds coordinating knife and fork at the same time to be tricky- this is also completely normal at 5 years old.

As always these types of posts on Mumsnet just become a place for people to brag about their children. Meanwhile, in the real world, 5 year olds not being completely confident yet with a knife and fork is perfectly normal.

You would still cut tough stuff

Not a competition but you stated experience first so to show I also have experience....the op said omelet that's very soft like a two to three could do not really cutting like potato and using it to push onto a fork.

🙄

OP, make play dough food together and use knife and fork to cut it up. Anything that’s good for fine motor skills will help her along with coordination and strength. But really don’t worry too much about it, she’ll not be asking you to cut up steak for her when she’s 25.

I work with 7/8 year olds and a lot of them eat with their fingers and a fork. Even the children that are naturally very coordinated with sport and handwriting. It seems to be something that holds less importance.