Article: In general, it’s best to wait until your son or daughter has developed a strong pincer grasp and can use the spoon relatively well. At that point, you can introduce the fork. Most children are ready by fifteen to eighteen months or so. To begin, select a fork made for young children, with rounded tips and a lighter weight. These are both safer and easier for a toddler to use successfully. Offer larger pieces of food that are fairly easy to pierce and hold with a fork: cubes of cheese work well, as do some kinds of cooked vegetables, meats, and pastas. Avoid foods that are too small, crumbly, or slippery. You don’t want to frustrate your child unnecessarily. In the beginning, you may need to take your child’s hand and demonstrate how to pierce and pick up a piece of food. Once your toddler is two or so, it’s fine to encourage fork-eating, but don’t worry if your child continues to prefer using his or her fingers. You can wait until the preschool years to start pushing harder for better table manners. Again, let your toddler know that you are impressed with his or her new skills.
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Wait until your toddler is ready. Choose the right fork. Start with foods that are easy to pierce. Help your child use the fork. Encourage eating with the fork. Praise your child’s efforts.