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Introduce Your Toddler to a Spoon and Fork

January 10, 2007 by Paul Banas Leave a Comment

Teaching table manners to toddlers may seem like a futile endeavor when you can’t even get them to sit still at the table. However, it has been observed that spoons and forks tend to give toddlers a ‘handle’ on the situation and eventually orient their attention properly towards their meals.

The introduction of table manners at an early age is essential and the implements with which you introduce your children to a proper eating experience will go a long way in making it all possible. So start off by buying the right kind of cutlery.

Make sure to buy:


  • tableware that is light-weight with a cushioned grip.

  • multicolored forks and spoons with stickers.

  • forks and spoons with round corners that don’t hurt your child.
Here are the steps to introduce toddlers to spoons and forks:


  • Introduce forks and spoons at the beginning of each meal.

  • Show them how to hold the spoon and fork and follow through by eating your meal with relish.

  • Show toddlers that it’s a ‘grown-up thing’ to do—allow them to serve and feed themselves with their brand new cutlery.

  • Whenever they put their hands directly into food, simply hand them a spoon.
When your toddlers sit quietly with a spoon, finishing their meals, don’t forget to praise them for good behavior.  

Filed Under: 58 Week

About Paul Banas

Paul Banas is happy married dad of two great kids living in San Francisco. He writes now about kids, new technology and how the two interact for GreatDad.com and for Pregnancy Magazine (pregnancymagazine.com) where he is also the publisher.

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Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad. Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

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