DS is nearly 20 months and still doesn't use a spoon or fork by himself. When I give him them he just wants to play with them; mashes his food, throws them. He has used a fork to get a few forkfuls in on his own, but that's few and far between, he'd rather me feed him or just use his hands. Anyones dc do this on the later side? How did you get them to use them more by themselves?
Let him be. Few use forks and spoons at this age. He won't go to college using his hands to eat lol.
Let him use his hands. He is still learning and will be for months more. The less you do for him, the quicker he will figure things out. They have to have the motivation- hunger and the dexterity to figure out the fork. He is on track. He is still fascinated by the power of manipulating his food.
This is normal for kids this age. They are learning by touching and manipulating stuff. It's fun to feel of it. Sometimes the food will actually get into their mouth.
It may be a year before he starts using flatware full time. I know in my toddler room we offered them flatware but planned on lots of wipes, brooms, dustpans, and mops for clean up after lunch.
In my 2 year old room the kids actually started using them but now very well and they were somewhat less messy but still not nearly as good as a 3 year old.
That's when the kids really started to using flatware most of the time. They would still pick up stuff to eat it but not near as often.
Your child is still in the typical age range for learning to use utensils. It can be another year or more before he uses it properly, most of the time. Right now, making a mess and playing with food is normal.
My kids insisted on feeding themselves at a very young age (10 months), so I got used to them using their hands. The also turned just about anything into a weapon or a projectile. Needless to say, we simply did not give them utensils for awhile. I think we actually waited for them to ask or at least show an interest.
Our youngest is almost 4 and uses a fork and spoon all the time.
I wouldn't worry about it. Just let him use his hands for now. When he shows an interest, that's when I'd get out the toddler fork and spoon again.
It takes alot of fine motor development to be able to maneuver a fork and spoon and it takes some kids a while to develop the proper muscels to even be able to physically do this.
Just keep giving it to him, at this age it's alot more to get used to holding than actually for eating. My DD is 2.5 and can use utensils now, but depending on what we're eating she'll still quite often use her hands because it's easier. However, the older they get the more they like to mimic EVERYTHING you do, including eating like mommy...your son will get there!
I might stop feeding him though if it's something he can eat with his hands...let him try and become an independent eater and he might be more apt to try some silverware.
But he's young, he's doing just fine!
Totally normal & he is using them... to mash & throw.
relax - he's fine. : )
I give the example that Indian children are fed by hand by older members of the family - and they still learn how to feed themselves. This can be older than 20 months, too!
My 2 year old is not exactly a neat eater with a spoon, even the hooked one, and he asks me to feed him (well, he screams when he gets food on himself instead of in his mouth (Mama, egg?) )
Even my five year old back tracks and asks me to feed him. Gladly. he's only a baby once. He's only a regressing five-year-old once. When he asks me that in a hurry I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Don't push him to do so much by himself yet. he'll get it - in his own time.
Good luck!
M.
Totally normal. Just because they "can" doesn't mean they "will" and at 20 months old, he's still learning about the food itself, let alone utensils and how to properly use them. A young child may understand that the fork will get the pea to his mouth, but he KNOWS that it's easier to use his fingers and will continue to do so for months yet (or longer.)
My 2.5 year old daughter has excellent motor skills and is more than capable of using utensils, and she does with most things. However, for whatever reason, she likes to eat her tuna salad with her hands, still occasionally sticks her fingers in her yogurt, etc...and I don't begrudge her that exploration.
Just keep presenting normal utensils and he will continue to learn. In my experience. I've found that my children are more likely to use miniaturized versions of actual silverware...when you give them silverware that looks like a toy, it tends to be treated that way. :)
I think at that age I would just continue to offer the silverware and he will chose to use them or not! My son is 2.5, he still prefers his hands lots of the time! It'
s so much quicker and easier for them to use fingers, so just continue to show him the fork and spoon!
Try having him sit at the table with the rest of the family where he can observe others eating. He can use hands to eat for a long time and will learn by observation and reminding.
