Table cutlery has evolved from primitive utensils to fashionable dining accessories. Fork and knife rules for children represent yardsticks that measure a youngster’s motor and social skills. A youngster is expected to learn how to commandeer a fork across his plate, as well as the appropriate methods for holding instruments to cut foods. He also requires some coaching to follow dining etiquette, especially during cold and flu seasons when family kitchens and school cafeterias are crawling with contagious bugs.
First Steps
Pay particular attention to your child when he is younger than three and doesn’t have a full set of teeth. Little ones choke easily on foods like fruit chunks, meats and hot dogs. Refrain from giving him a knife or fork at this age because of the potential for injuries. Instead, cut meals and snacks into small bite-sized portions. Hand your youngster a spoon when he reaches one or two years of age -- and then stand back. This is the appropriate age for him to figure out how to scoop softer dishes like applesauce into his mouth even though he most likely will generate messes.
Motor Skills
Your child should be capable of eating with a fork and spoon on his own by age five, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He still requires some supervision with a knife but usually can master cutting and spreading certain items. These mealtime milestones represent development of the fine motor skills that govern use of hands, wrists and fingers. Not only can you expect your child to exert more control over table utensils, but he also should be proficient with drawing shapes, using the toilet and getting dressed on his own.
Hygiene
Lack of cleanliness represents another potential hazard with table cutlery among children. Forks, knives and spoons transmit illnesses when kids share their flatware. Contagious health conditions include influenza, cold sores, mononucleosis and meningitis, according to KidsHealth.org. Teach your youngsters to avoid swapping glasses and flatware. Wash these items with warm soapy water by hand or in a dishwasher to prevent infectious disease outbreaks among children. Disposable eating utensils also help thwart spread of germs.
Special Needs
Young cancer patients require special precautions with eating utensils. Never use the same fork to sample food as you prepare a meal, the American Cancer Society reports. At restaurants, keep silverware from touching tabletops that might contain germs. Instead, ensure that clean flatware is resting on your child’s napkin or plate as a preventive measure. Children with cancer sometimes experience metallic tastes in their mouths following treatments. Offer plastic flatware and glass plates and cups to alleviate this discomfort.
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