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Chopsticks -- When and how to teach kids?
Filed under: Nutrition: Health, Development/Milestones: Babies
Remember the swordfight in The Princess Bride? Inigo is on the ropes and the Man in Black asks why he is smiling. The answer is "Because I know something you do not know... I am not left-handed." I could use that line at the dinner table -- I use chopsticks with my left hand better than most Americans do with their right. I'm even better with my right hand. I don't remember, however, learning to use chopsticks; I pretty much used them my whole life.
Now that I have kids, I want to teach them to use chopsticks properly as well. The problem is, I have no idea when I should start teaching them or how to go about it. I found a study that found that, on average, children in China are able to learn to use chopsticks at four-and-a-half, but it's not clear how early the children were or should be started to achieve that. As for the how, I have seen novelty sets where the two are joined at or near the top; Slashfood did a write-up of some and even linked to instructions on how to make your own. Or, you can get a ready-made converter. I'm not sure, however, if they would help or hinder the learning process. I know there are also child-sized chopsticks and chopsticks with a loop for the thumb, which sounds like it might be a good idea. But what really works best? When should I start teaching the kids to use them? What's the best way to teach them? I'd love to hear any advice or tips you might have!
Now that I have kids, I want to teach them to use chopsticks properly as well. The problem is, I have no idea when I should start teaching them or how to go about it. I found a study that found that, on average, children in China are able to learn to use chopsticks at four-and-a-half, but it's not clear how early the children were or should be started to achieve that. As for the how, I have seen novelty sets where the two are joined at or near the top; Slashfood did a write-up of some and even linked to instructions on how to make your own. Or, you can get a ready-made converter. I'm not sure, however, if they would help or hinder the learning process. I know there are also child-sized chopsticks and chopsticks with a loop for the thumb, which sounds like it might be a good idea. But what really works best? When should I start teaching the kids to use them? What's the best way to teach them? I'd love to hear any advice or tips you might have!
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
8-03-2006 @ 1:52PM
ann adams said...I handed the kids the chopsticks and let them flail away.
My younger son picked them up and just began eating. His brother took a little longer but he does fine now. I knew just enough to show them and the restaurant staff were glad to help. They usually like kids.
Reply
8-03-2006 @ 1:55PM
Elaine said...My three year old has been using chopsticks since she was two. Granted, it's not pretty, but she gets the food in her face. We just started handing them to her whenever we were eating with them and she's fumbled through it, resorting to her hands or a fork when needed. We'll probably start offering her instruction when she asks for it or shows an interest!
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8-03-2006 @ 2:02PM
Ginny said...My two still use the cheapo pull apart ones. I just pull them apart slightly and fold the paper up and slip it up near where they are joined and they can use them like teezers. We learned that at a Japanese restaurant. (The kids are 4 and 5.) Once kids learn how to properly hold a pencil, I think they are able to learn how to hold chop sticks. Maybe I should try to teach my kids and see what happens.
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8-03-2006 @ 2:45PM
Barb White said...My brother learned when he was four. He is the youngest (with a big gap) and he and my mom used to go out to lunch at a local restaurant. They were there often enough that one day the man simply showed him how. After that, he just did it.
The rest of us still just eat with a fork. I'd start sooner rather than later -that way it will be second nature.
B
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8-03-2006 @ 3:26PM
B said...We recently taught my 2 y/o to use them. He doesn't have the correct grip but he has heaps of fun and manages to get at least some food in his mouth. When he is older I will try to get him to hold them properly, but for now he will eat anything on the end of chopsticks which is a great way to get food into him :)
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8-03-2006 @ 4:01PM
Christine said...Im like the rest.. just handed them to her... she is 9 now and somewhere along the way she figured it out! :D
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8-03-2006 @ 4:32PM
ang said...my mother told me that she just handed my brother and i child sized chopsticks and we learned just by observing and trial. we used chopsticks almost everyday at home, so i'm not sure if it's any different than occassional usage.
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8-03-2006 @ 7:00PM
Tamyu said...My son is 22 months, and is coming along better with chopsticks than with a spoon or fork. He`ll even hold the chopsticks right, although he can`t actually open and close them. Of course, he sees us using them everyday and 99% of the food we feed him is via chopsticks.
In Japan, they suggest you start around 2. Once your child is holding the spoon correctly - ie the same as an adult, not in a fist - they are ready. I think the average for mastering them is between 3 and 4.
We use the set on this page : http://www.combibaby.com/goods/collection/babylabel/fr_index.html
The little bulb bit fits in the palm and seems to work much better for teaching than the funky loops. They even offer a parent sized set so that children who refuse to use ones not like mommy or daddy can be satisfied.
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8-03-2006 @ 9:24PM
Jen said...Our three year old just kind of learned thru trial and error. We gave her a set to play with from our takeout for a while and now she can do pretty well with them. On the other hand, my family spent years trying to explain to me the proper way to use them and it took me a long time to remember the proper hand position, etc. I think it's like everything else. If you let your kids figure out the best way for them, they'll do it but if you try to make it into a huge lesson, they have a bigger chance of giving up before they understand.
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8-03-2006 @ 11:25PM
jjwalsh said...I grew up in Hawaii and using chopsticks as a kid was always second nature. I think just having them available for kids to pick up and try and being around adults that use them is the best way to teach. Kids sized chopsticks are definitely easier to use and the Japanese ones that are pointed at the end instead of blunt or square make it a lot easier to pick up small things. We are now living in Japan and my son has learned how to use chopsticks in daycare. They never used any of the linked or novelty chopsticks for helping kids learn how to hold them although they do sell them here. A lot of Japanese comment on how some people use chopsticks properly (apparently many foreigners are said to do it the proper way having learned a certain style whereas kids who just pick it up naturally are learning wrong, but I think as long as you can hold food securely with them and get most of it to your mouth- you are doing a great job!
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8-04-2006 @ 10:08AM
jen said...I learnt to use chopsticks at 5. My parents took my sister and I to a chinese restaurant in Soho (London) and gave us chopsticks, and basically wouldn't allow us to use a fork. So we ate with chopsticks or went hungry. We learnt within about 5 minutes!
I don't know if I'd use such a harsh route with my son, but it definitely works. I do intend to get those 'cheating chopsticks' that are joined at the top for him to practice with when he's older.
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