1.07.2009

suggestions, please!


We've been trying to teach Finley to use her spoon. A typical meal involves her dipping the spoon in the bowl a few times and bringing it to mouth. After a few bites, she starts to put her hands in the bowl and finger paint with the food on her tray. Then, she'll tip over the bowl and pour out the contents. If I'm really lucky, she'll run her hands through her hair.
Now, I know it's supposed to take time. And I'm okay with the mess. I guess I just wanted to know if there's any tips, tricks, or suggestions from parents who have been through this already. Is there some magical spoon that makes learning this skill easier?

Finley and "e-ya" having fun in the cart at Costco.

Having bath time fun with lo lo.

6 comments:

Andrea said...

Sounds like you are doing just right! It does take a while. Try not putting so much in the bowl ;) We have a bowl that suctions to the table and was a bit harder to pick up and dump, that helped! My kids hate using utensils! They are plenty old enough to use them but it is always a battle. Using their hands is way more fun! Finley is still really young. Most kids her age don't use their spoons very well.

Brian, Meghan, and Finley said...

Thanks, Andrea. That's good to hear. I read something that said she should have been using a spoon a while ago, and thought it sounded a bit off. We have a suction bowl too, but she's figured out how to pull it up from the tray :)

Kristi said...

I started using a spoon with Andrew for one meal a day, usually with yogurt at breakfast. They have shorter/fatter spoons at Target that make it easier for them to grip and get to their mouth. Andrew still isn't very good at it, but I usually hold the bowl on his tray and assist him with scooping the food on the spoon. Sometimes we only do a few bites and then I do the rest. He does like using a fork and seems to be better at it. Good luck!

Doug, Darla, and Kaya said...

I have to say that I read that same thing about how they should be using a spoon and freaked out! Kaya pulls up the suction bowl, flings the food, and plays in it too. I usually just end up helping her (a lot). It actually makes me feel a little better to hear that Finley isn't a pro with the utensils yet either. :)

C.J. and Jen said...

That's so funny...I just put up a post about Owen feeding himself! But really, it has taken us until now (19 months!) to get him to stop doing that. I was starting to feel like crummy mom because I wouldn't let Owen try very often because he would just play with it and make a big mess. But he has finally caught on. So don't worry about it, she'll get it eventually.

Rachel said...

hey there. my mom found Ashley these spoons that have a curved handle and the spoon part has a bunch of little holes in it. somehow these seem to keep food attached to the spoon a little longer than the others do. they are pink and blue and come in a two-pack. i think she may have got them at Merry-go-round in Bellevue.