Learning to use a Knife Safely – OT Readiness Building Activities

Judy Benz Duncan, Occupational Therapist

Being able to use a knife safely during a meal or snack is a complex task that may take years to master, and generally is not even introduced until your child is able to manage their spoon and fork with fairly good consistency.

Being able to use a knife to cut their own food is a great confidence booster, and a sure sign that your little one is growing up!

Children learn in different ways so you might need to vary your approach.  There are a number of ways in which you can help teach your child to use a knife safely and correctly. Please be aware that some children cannot look and listen at the same time, so limiting the amount of information you giving at one time will help them process and learn the task.

Following are a variety of methods and ideas you may wish to try. Some may work great; others may cause a meltdown! There are wide levels of activities that give lots of practice on learning to use a knife. Read through and pick and choose those that fit where your child is at.

Learning to use a Knife Safely – OT Readiness Building Activities

As with all learning of new skills, take your time, relax, breathe, give lots of practice opportunities, have paper towels at the ready, and remember, “there is always tomorrow!”

o   It is important to begin by checking that your child is sitting at a stable table. Use a sturdy box (or stack of books work too) under their feet and cushions on the chair to make sure their body is well supported. It is too hard to concentrate on learning a new skill when they have to worry about falling out of the chair or not feeling secure and stable.

o   Check to be sure that your child can reach and see the table or work surface without difficulty. They need be able to see what they are doing without just peering over the edge of the table trying to see.

o   Physically assist your child (Use the hand-over-hand technique, the child grasps the knife while the adult puts their hand over the top of the child’s).

o   Show your child - do the task alongside your child.

o   Tell your child - talk your child through each step of the process.

o   Encourage them to hold their knife with their index finger pointing downward on the back side of the knife (cutlery grasp) for better control and improved ability to use – of course everyone is different – just watch grown-ups while they cut their food, so go with whatever actually works for you and your child!

o   Utensils and Knifes with thick and/or textured handles are easier to hold.  A knife with a short handle is easier to control. 

o   Plates with a raised edge help to contain the food while learning how to “saw” and cut the food.

o   A non-slip mat under the plate will help keep everything in place while they are pushing/pulling the food with the knife, and exerting pressure across the plate.

o   Work on one aspect of using a knife at a time – whether it is spreading or cutting, try to work on one type of skill at a time

o   Start off with soft easy to spread butter, jam, jelly, runny icing, whipped cream, or syrups, onto firmer foods, such as toast, a cupcake, waffle, pancake, cornbread, and so on. You are looking to teach the basic action and purpose of using a knife to spread substance onto their food.

o   When able to manage spreading soft foods, move up to items that require a little more effort, such as nut butters, honey, Nutella, frosting, marmalade

o   Start off with chopping or cutting up soft foods that are “made just right for cutting,” and then move to firmer foods.  For example, start with bananas, jello squares, or cooked spaghetti noodles, before attempting a pancake.

o   Practice cutting and spreading skills during other non-meal time activities such as when they are playing with play-dough, slime time, or during craft activities.

o   You can start with a plastic knife, but it will not have the same weight, handling, or cutting action of a regular knife. If you are concerned about safety, you may want to try a spreading knife, or a butter knife to begin with.

o   Teach them basic knife safety. Teach them to never put a knife in their mouth or near their face. Teach them to not eat off of a knife.

o   Try to set the dishes and utensils out in the same way to develop a routine and help your child learn to anticipate and locate items at each meal

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o   Take your time and be consistent.  Learning a new skill takes time so give praise, encouragement and support for all of your child’s efforts – half cut, ragged cut, or food slid right off the plate, are all part of learning.

o   Give your child opportunities to practice using a knife every day

o   Start by supporting the action completely. Gradually reduce the amount of physical support you provide as the child becomes more independent.

o   Start by encouraging your child to hold a knife during mealtime so they get used to handling a utensil, and call their attention to you when you cut your food

o   Cut up all but a few pieces of your child’s food and then ask/ help them to cut up the last piece or two. Each meal have them cut up more and more of their own food (once they have mastered the soft easy things!)

o   See if they can help you cut up some of your food.

o   Have they try their hand at cutting up a variety of foods and textures – let them see and feel how different foods are easy or hard to cut

o   Let them cut up pieces of cake for everyone at the table! Celebrate their efforts!

o   Once they are able to use a knife to cut their softer foods, they may be ready to combine a fork and sharper knife to cut foods that require two hands (like meat or poultry, sandwiches, waffles and so on) – but that’s for another day! 

Check out the rest of the mealtime/self feeding series: Click Me!

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