Using a Spoon–Readiness Building Activities–Mod-Severe Level

Judy Benz Duncan, Occupational Therapist

Children learn in different ways so you might need to vary your approach.  There are a number of ways in which you can help:

·         Physically assist your child in learning how to use a spoon

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

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

You can use each of these ways individually or in any combination depending on what works with your child. 

Some children cannot look and listen at the same time so you may need to limit the amount of information you giving at any one time.

As your child starts to take an increased part in self feeding it is important that their feet and back are supported so that they can use their hands freely.  Whenever possible check 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.

Being able to use a spoon during a meal or snack is a complex task that may take years to master. When using a spoon, a child may alternate between both hands, practice different holds on the spoon, and maybe bring their mouth down to the spoon in the bowl to help avoid spills that are going to happen when bringing the spoon from the plate or bowl to their mouth.

In pre-school, your child may be able to use a special spoon you send from home, or they may find the class is given plastic spoons to use during a snack or lunch time. Using disposable plastic spoons are often harder to handle as they are light, smaller, shorter, and sometimes the neck of the spoon breaks if too much pressure is applied during scooping up the food.

Your child’s ability to use a variety of spoons (regular, weighted, or plastic) helps them gain mastery over their oral-motor or mouth muscles, while promoting their fine motor skill coordination and control. It does take time to master this combination of fine motor skills and oral-motor control required to scoop, bring the spoon with food on it to their mouth, and remove the food while achieving good lip closure. It’s a complex task!

Give lots of opportunities to practice with a variety of foods – soups, mac-n-cheese, fruit cups, applesauce, mashed potatoes, and so on!

Following are a variety of activities 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 the use of a spoon. Read through and pick and choose those that fit where your child is at.

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!”

·         It is important that your child is well supported when they are learning any new skill.  In the beginning it is important to make sure your child is well supported in a high chair or on your lap.  You can use cushions or rolled up towels to help your child stay in a good erect position

·         As they grow it is important that their feet and back are supported so that they can use their hands freely.  Whenever possible ensure that your child is sitting at a table.  You could use a sturdy box under their feet and cushions on the chair to make sure they are well supported

·         Always 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

·         Think about the utensils you are using.  Spoons with thick and/or textured handles are easier to hold.  A spoon with a short handle is easier to control

·         Consider the weight of the spoon - Sometimes something heavier can be easier to control 

·         Use a bowl or plate with a raised edge so the child has something to scoop against

·         Place a non-slip mat underneath the bowl to prevent it sliding when your child is learning to scoop

·         When encouraging your child to use a spoon use food that is going to easily stick to the spoon – mashed potato, applesauce, yogurt, oatmeal, sticky mac-n-cheese, for example. These foods are great to start with as the child does not have to worry about spills while they are trying to focus on bringing the spoon to their mouth.  

·         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 – spills or not!

·         Give your child opportunities for practice every day

·         Have a fun time of trying to eat something, like spaghetti, with a spoon – you try it too for a meal full of laughs! Be prepared for a messy time!

·         Use a large serving spoon, or even a wooden spoon, and let your child scoop and transfer dry beans, dry elbow noodles, dry rice, beads, coins, pom-poms, and so on, from one container to another.

·         Try to have your child scoop out some peanut butter or jam – textured thick spreads which may require a bit of work to scoop out some – then have them try to spread on a piece of bread

A good way to teach your child a new skill, is to break down each task into small steps and teach them the last step first (called backward chaining). Once they can do the last step of the task, teach them the second-last step, then the third-last step and so on.  An example of backward chaining with learning how to use a spoon is to break the task down into steps as follows:

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

·         Start by encouraging your child to hold a spoon during mealtime so they get used to handling a utensil

·         Help your child scoop the food by bringing the spoon up to their mouth and putting the spoon into their mouth. Your child needs to be cued to remove the food from the spoon with lips closing around the bowl of the spoon

·         Help your child scoop the food and bring the spoon up to their mouth. Your child is responsible for putting the spoon into their mouth and removing the food. (A little more responsibility than the level listed above)

·         Help your child scoop the food. Your child is responsible for bringing the spoon up to their mouth, putting the spoon into their mouth and removing the food from the spoon.

·         Your child can now try using the spoon independently – expect spills and mess!

Practice, practice, and more practice will help your child in learning how to use a spoon! Give your child opportunities for practice every day for best success.

If your child has Min-Mod Readiness Issues check out that PAGE

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