Eating meals - using a knife and fork

• It is important that your child is well supported when they are learning any new skill.
• Whenever possible, ensure that your child is sitting at a table
• It is important that their feet and back are supported so that they can use their hands
  freely. You could use a sturdy box under their feet and cushions on the chair to make sure
  they are well supported
• Always set the dishes and utensils out in the same way to develop a routine and help your
  child locate items at each meal
• Think about the utensils you are using. Knives and forks with thick and/or textured handles
  are easier to hold. Knives and forks with short handles are easier to control. Use a plate
  with a raised edge to prevent the food from sliding off the plate. Place a non-slip mat
  underneath the plate to prevent it sliding when your child is learning to cut
• Encourage a good cutlery grasp right from the start; your child’s index finger should point
  down the back of the knife and fork towards the blade and prongs
• It is usually easier to use the fork in your non-dominant hand and your knife in your
  dominant hand but allow your child to experiment and find out what works best for them
• Start off with cutting soft foods and move to firmer foods. For example, practice cutting
  mushrooms and bananas before moving onto meat
• Take your time and be consistent. Learning a new skill takes time so persevere with giving
  support until you feel that the child is making progress
• Practise, practise, practise! Give your child opportunities to practice every day. A
  motivating game to use when practicing outside of meal times could be the ‘Mars bar
  games (or banana), throw a dice, each time you get a six, cut off a piece of mars bar. Carry
  on cutting pieces until the next person throws a six.
• You may also want to vary the time of day when you practise, so practise at snack time. If your child is exceptionally hungry, you may want to cut up some of their food so they can practise once they have satisfied their initial hunger.
• A good way to teach your child a new skill is to break down each task into small steps and teach them one step at a time (chaining). Teach them the first step and then teach the second step and so on until your child has mastered all of the steps.
• Children learn in different ways so you might need to vary your approach. There are a number of ways in which you can help:
  • Physically assist your child
  • Show your child – do the task alongside your child
  • Tell your child – talk your child through each step of the process
  • Get your child to stab the food and keep it still while you cut with the knife
  • Get your child to stab the food and saw with the knife