What age did your child cut their own food?

[Anonymous]

Was there a different age between meat cutting and softer things like pancakes?

[Anonymous]

My 6yr old can not cut everything, even steak/chicken. I think by age 4 she was cutting pancakes. Younger for bananas and really soft food. Many years of messy tables and the dog getting tons of extras but it is worth it to not have to do it anymore.

We purchased this knife and she uses it for the really hard stuff. She uses a regular knife now mostly though

http://www.amazon.com/Bakeware-Buddy-Non-Stick-Surface-Safe-Plastic/dp/B0000CF8HR?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

[Anonymous]

6 1/2 - we started with softer food (pancakes) then things like chicken.

[Anonymous]

^^^but she started closer to 4 1/2 with a non-sharp knife and by 6/12 was using a sharp knife/

[Anonymous]

At 2.5 I started teaching it. By 3.5 they could cut anything. I'd sometimes do it for them if they were very hungry and I could tell they didn't have the patience.

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old doesn't cut her stuff but I'm starting to insist.

[Anonymous]

My 7 yo can do it with softer foods, basically anything that can be cut with a non-cerated blade.... She dislikes most meats so that's not really an issue at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 2.5 I started teaching it. By 3.5 they could cut anything. I'd sometimes do it for them if they were very hungry and I could tell they didn't have the patience.

I'm impressed. I teach 3 year olds and most of them can't even open their lunch containers, let alone cut their food.

[Anonymous]

Omg, I almost just posted this. My 9 year old still struggles. I probably need to just stop helping and let him sink or swim. But has always been a bit behind in finger dexterity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 2.5 I started teaching it. By 3.5 they could cut anything. I'd sometimes do it for them if they were very hungry and I could tell they didn't have the patience.

I'm impressed. I teach 3 year olds and most of them can't even open their lunch containers, let alone cut their food.

I think fine motor skills are easier for some kids than others.

[Anonymous]

Age 9 still inept.

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old still needs help. Honestly, I think it's tough. She's great at other things (good handwriting, gross motor, etc), but not at this. I figure it'll come in time. NBD, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Kids need more help with fine and gross motor skills because parents coddle and kids do not get more autonomy and random playtime.

And writing is becoming less and less as tablets and computers take over and ruin more fine motor and finger dexterity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Age 9 still inept.

You still cut their food for them at 9?

[Anonymous]

I make my 9y old cut everything (steak, chicken, etc) and insist he hold the fork.knife appropriately (because one of my big pet peeves is adults sawing on their food.)