Teach your child to use chopsticks with this guide
Teaching your child how to use chopsticks is an important milestone for many Asian parents. Here's a step-by-step guide to make it easier...and more fun!
Learning how to use chopsticks for kids doesn't just make mealtimes more enjoyable, it can help their development too.
This learning milestone can help hone a child's fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and even their handwriting.
While some kids pick it up faster than others, other kids might need a little bit more practice.
Helping your child master the art of dining with chopsticks should not be a daunting task. Make it a fun activity by following some easy steps.
Here's a helpful guide on how to use chopsticks for kids!
There is no specific age for learning to use chopsticks. As for me, I was about six or seven when we learned how to use this in school.
I went to a Montessori school where we were taught to practice picking up inedible objects with chopsticks first before testing our skills on food. When the time came for me to teach my own niece how to do it, the technique came in handy.
You can also follow these simple steps on how to use chopsticks for kids, as outlined below.
Step 1: Assist the child by positioning the sticks firmly in her hand
Instruct your child to grip the sticks as she would a pencil.
Step 2: Make sure the child's middle finger is placed between the two sticks.
The middle finger should serve as an "anchor" to keep the sticks in position.
Step 3: Teach them to move the top stick up and down using their thumb and index fingers
Try a series of small movements until your child gets the hang of it!
Step 4: Have them pick up large food with the sticks, then you can gradually shift to smaller kinds of food, like noodles
Once they have mastered moving the sticks up and down without dropping them, it's time to practise!
Step 5: Enjoy a meal together using chopsticks! Practice makes perfect
Be patient when your child makes a mess! It's all part of the fun of learning.
Another fun technique you can try is to create "training chopsticks" using a rubber band!
Here's how to assemble it.
All you will need is a pair of chopsticks as well as a rubber band and some tape. The chopsticks' plastic wrapping will also come in handy.
Step 1: Separate the chopsticks, making sure to rub them together to get rid of splinters.
Step 2: Roll the plastic wrapping so that it is the same width as a pencil. Tape it sealed.
Step 3: Wedge it between the sticks at the bottommost part.
Step 4: Wrap a rubber band around the same spot, adjusting as necessary.
You can even purchase adorable "training chopsticks" with cute designs.