At what age?

[tiggerlover]

At what age did you stop cutting up your kids meat and let them use a knife by themselves?

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I haven't gotten there yet! Oldest DD is almost 5.

 

[SuiteDisney]

You're supposed to stop???

 

[CEDmom]

I haven't let DD-4 use a knife sharp enough to cut meat yet. However, I do let her have a plastic knife to cut soft things like melon, cheese, bread etc.

 

[Michelemouse]

DS is 8 and has been cutting his own meat for about a year. Occasionally he still needs some help, but most of the time he can do it on his own.

 

[SOBDOSNV]

My wife tried cutting my steak after we got married(I was 28). Whenever she'd cook steak, I was always getting it cut up. I didn't think to much about it, thought she was being nice. Well once we went to Sizzler and she reached for my plate, I didn't know what she was doing till she started cutting. In her defense, she helped raise 5 nephews and neices, and they were all under 10 at the time, so it was just habit she said. After that, she didn't do it any more I think it would be different for different develpmental stages. Some might be 5, some might be 7.

 

[nativetxn]

I <i>think</i> Travis was about 6 or 7 before I let him do that for himself.

 

[Nutsy]

Gosh, I can't remember.....................I guess they were around 10/11 for steak. That was the only thing I really cut up for them

 

[Mimi Q]

My DD is 11 yo and she still asks me to cut up her steaks.

 

[FreshTressa]

Totally depends on the kid and how comfortable they were with it. I still have to cut up pancakes for my 6 year old. I don't foresee an end of meat cutting for another 3-5 years or so.

I am not so worried about him having a knife, but that it would just be so much easier for him if I did it.

 

[LadyAurora]

My stepsons are 11, and we still sometimes cut their meat for them.

 

[Kitty 34]

I can't remember exactly but I would say my boys were 9 or 10.

 

[Mishetta]

OMG! My DS is 8 y/o & I have no intentions of putting a steak knife in his hand yet!! He still worries me with a fork! He's always waving the fork around the dinner table & he makes me think he's going to jab himself in the eye with it!! His ADHD makes him spastic & impulsive & by dinner time his meds have worn off....so no knife for a while!

 

[always quiet]

If they are using a butter knife...and the meat is tender, like meatloaf would be, I allow all the kids to do it themselves (13, 12 and 9). I would say using a sharp knife, I have allowed my 2 older kids to do it for about the past year.

I do have to say, sometimes, if dinner is more hurried than usual, I will do it for all the kids just to save time.

 

[debster812]

I wish I could answer, however, I have a 6 YO who won't eat meat yet.

 

[Magickndm]

Heck, if I can get away with it, I have my hubby cut my steak for me. But I guess my dd was 9 or so. Depends on your kid and if you think they are coordinated enough to not cut off a finger, or someone else's.