Learning how to use cutlery effectively is a common goal for many of our children at Gesher. Here is a link to a YouTube video that will help your child learn how to use their knife and fork and practise their skills at home. This is a great way to help younger children remember how to correctly hold and use their knife and fork using the āstab with the fork, down the slide and saw saw saw saw sawā sentence.
Resources for home:
There are several options when it comes to cutlery and many shops and places to purchase different ones. We recommend using Caring cutlery with children as this cutlery has an indentation where the index finger is to be placed and is specifically designed to fit the child or young person’s hand. This cutlery comes in both child and junior sizes and many different colours. Utensils with thick and/or textured handles are easier to hold. A spoon or fork with a short handle is easier to control.Ā Consider the weight of the cutlery.Ā Sometimes something heavier can be easier to control.
Use plates with shallow and rimmed plates with high sides so that the food can be pushed to the side of theĀ plate, to make it easier for them to pick it up with a fork or spoon by pushing it onto the sides.
Check the plate/bowl isnāt sliding around. A Dycem non-slip surface or mat may be useful.
Consider using plastic plates rather than crockery or metal as some children may be adverse to the sound of the cutlery hitting the plate.
Below are some links to where you can purchase items mentioned in this post.
ļø Rimmed plates
