At what age did your child(ren) cut their own food?

[Anonymous]

As I cut pancakes for my 4 and 6 year old, I wonder what age should they be doing this exclusively? I do encourage them to cut here and there with safe knives, but the old "it's faster for me to do it" has trumped their knife skills training regimen.

[Anonymous]

My 4.5 yo can cut soft foods, like pancakes, sandwiches (unnecessary, obviously, but she likes it), bananas, cooked veggies, etc., but she still needs help with meat. Seems like she's on track to cut everything herself within a year or so.

[Anonymous]

Something like pancakes? 3 or 3.5. Still cutting meat sometimes at just turned 4 but I can't imagine I will still be cutting his food at 6. We have also just started giving the 2.5 year old a knife with stuff like pancakes but he usually just picks it up whole (no syrup).

[Anonymous]

I work in child care and we start giving the kids a knife to cut their own food at 2.5, but most aren't really able to do it until they are 3-3 1/2.

[Anonymous]

DAYCARE TODDLER KNIFE FIGHT!!!

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old still won't cut his own meat. He'd just rather not eat than put in the effort to cut it up. Yeah, he isn't much into food.

[Anonymous]

I stopped cutting my son's food when he was around 7. He is 9 now and can cut most foods. Steak and other tough meats I will instruct him how to cut but our knives are 20 yrs old and pretty dull.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DAYCARE TODDLER KNIFE FIGHT!!!

Thanks for making me laugh in a meeting.

[Anonymous]

Around 5 for soft foods. Her PS (3) made soup for a shelter regularly and they taught her"knife skills." They gave the kids the jack o'lantern carving knives which are sturdy, short, and serrated. She's 7 now and I still cut her her steak though.

[Anonymous]

I'm teaching my 3-year-old twins to cut their own soft food like pancakes. They often hold the knife upside down, however. They are very clumsy and slow but they can do it. My 5-year-old is a pro at cutting his food.