One week to get ds eating with cutlery not hands

[StarlightMcKenzie]

He has an assessment for a school we very much want to accept him. The school have some 'standards'. This is one.

They are not used to inclusion. But the HT is fab and whilst reluctant, explained why which made a lot of sense (had a lot to do with not wanting any so called experts from the LA anywhere near his school - lol). He has read ds' reports so it isn't going to be a shock, - in fact I'm hoping it will be a nice surprise because his reports are depressing whilst he is a happy smiley child not yet ruined by the SEN education system.

But, - his eating skills are ferral and if I can't sort them, I'd like fast track improvements if anyone has any ideas.

Many TIA.

We got DS some Juinor Caring Cutlery from Benefits Now here. The first time he used them he ate the whole meal for the first time with a knife and fork! Amazing! He find normal knives and forks too big.

Does he have currency starlight.

Does positive reinforcment [bribery] work with him.

I am watching with interest as I would love to get Dd3 using cutlery, she does occasionally but not often enough.

Ds eats with hands at home because that is allowed out of the house he uses cutlery. Is it that he physically can't or that he prefers not to?

Oh God Pipin. See I knew that, but it's the blardy hard work option. LOL

Thought there might be a magic wand. Might start with MrsBaffled's magic cutlery though so it isn't so hard for him.

Suppose I could look up tag teach too.

Just for once could there just be an easy way out?

Oooh, Lenin. I never thought of that. Perhaps I can insist that his diet is restricted and therefore can only have a packed lunch.

See there IS an lazy easy way out!?

insanity, I find there is a think line between physically unable and prefering not to with ASD children. Often I am fooled into believing one when it is the other.

I can second the magic cutlery (even if DS protests using it makes his hands hurt); his OT recommended it after he successfully managed to cut up a sausage made from Theraputty he still tries to eat things like baked beans with his fingers though

Pipin, it isn't secure. There are lots of things to talk about, but there is dialogue iyswim.

And a HT that wants the LA experts the hell away from him as much as I do is both reassuring and disturbing at the same time.

And brilliant idea flyingfig, to practise on playdoh and other things before mealtimes become traumatic.

We can cut up little balls into the different phases of the moon (ds' current obsession)

Am I allowed to admit here that packed lunches is SOOOOO much easier?

(I use DS's serious dairy intolerance as an excuse, anyone who has ever met him gets that he'd ENJOY projectile vomitting all over the adult in charge, & that's before we deal with the death stinking runs).

I try & do 4-5 meals per day + cutlery every school holiday and have done since he was teeny, it's just not worked yet. A week before he starts a new school is not the time to hothouse a new school as you risk raising his anxiety levels and that never bodes well. (Though your lad might be a calmer sort than mine - ignore my last sentence if that's the case). The time would be better spent with photos of his new teacher, layout of the classroom etc.

I took ds out for meals every day after going through the rules but then I suspected he chose not to rather than couldn't. Ds only eats dry foods so there's less of an incentive to use cutlery here when he won't get his hands dirty.
Does he have a favourite food? could you let him choose between favourite food using cutlery or not favourite food using his hands as an incentive.

You could try giving your DS just one piece of his favourite food loaded onto a fork or spoon on a plate - nothing else on the plate. Best to do this in between meal times as when he is hungry this may just frustrate him.

Say 'use fork (spoon)' if he attempts to take food from cutlery with his fingers.

When he has used the cutlery, reward using something he really likes (e.g. a go using a novelty toy) and also give verbal praise 'well done'.

Build up slowly with 2 pieces and so on.

This worked with a child I helped to learn to use cutlery.

DS1 was still nonverbal with almost zero receptive language when our ABA consultant worked a 'miracle' and had him eating with a spoon (and v shortly afterwards a fork) within 48hrs.

She started off reinforcing him for just accepting food off a spoon (given by her) and kept blocking him when he repeatedly went to pick food up with his hands. Then she used the spoon with him hand over hand, reinforcing that, and then finally she moved onto only letting him eat (with his fave meal sitting in front of him) when he at least made an approximation of using the spoon himself (co-ordination was v bad to start with). For a couple of days after this he would occasionally try and use his fingers but we had to keep blocking him and handing him the spoon.

I thought it would be a tortuous battle but honestly it was amazingly quick. It seemed to become a new 'habit' v fast and in those days when he still loved his food he was impressed with how much more food he could shovel in each time with cutlery!

YOU are a smart woman starlight I'm sure will sort it out with aba and reinforcement as there isn't a quick fix.

Later if you want to get to the bottom of the issue you can try fine motor skills exercise and I have sheets and sheets to send you when you ready.

DS learnt to use the junior caring cutlery at OT classes on plasticine sausages. He still struggles a bit with normal cutlery but they made a massive difference to him.

Mashed sweet potatoes with your fingers anyone

We have to try to tackle this but for now packed lunches at school are perfect. Fish fingers and chips on Friday are sort of acceptable with fingers

Yes, you are right xxxxxx, pancakes also did the trick for DS and although mostly he uses a fork only he is capable of swapping fork in left hand if right is needed for cutting and holding knife

Xxxxxx meant zzzzzz, it's probably time to sleep