How a Children's Cutlery Set Can Help with Confidence in Younger Kids

And Why it Can Help Foster Independence in Little Bears

If your children are anything like mine, they'll go through that stage of asserting their independence. And not just with a children's cutlery set!

Just this morning my almost-Mr-3 refused to let me help him get his PJs off for his shower. I had to endure a good 20 minutes of watching him get stuck in all the arm and head holes. The cute factor wears off after the first few seconds.

However! Research shows that encouraging toddler independence is crucial for developing their self-confidence, resilience, problem solving skills and a strong sense of self worth. So, I persevere! 

This show of independence doesn't stop at meal times. In fact, I'd say it heightens. And it was when my eldest son refused to use his 'kiddy looking' cutlery that I decided I wanted to incorporate a range of stainless steel children's cutlery in to our brand. I wanted a set that made him feel like he was one of the grown ups.

We spent over a year perfecting our prototype. Here, I want to explore why and how these specially designed utensils contribute to fostering independence and confidence in young kids.

The Benefits of Using a Tailor-Made Children’s Cutlery Set

1) Promotes Fine Motor Skills

One of the first and most important benefits is that it helps toddlers develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements required for tasks like holding a pencil or, tying shoelace. By learning to grasp a utensil children strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers. This in turn improves coordination and dexterity. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible for our son with our adult size cutlery. He struggled to form a proper grip and the heads were far too large for his little mouth.

The fine motor skills that develop in using a tailored children's cutlery set can help to play a vital role in later activities such as writing, drawing, and buttoning their clothes. That's why we wanted to ensure that our own utensils were the perfect width handle for their grip with the appropriately sized fork and spoon heads for little mouths. It can take a lot of work for little bears to get the food from the plate in to their mouths, it doesn't need to be made harder without the right tools!

The inclusion of a knife was also key for us in developing our sets. We wanted kids to be able to safely work on the fine motor skills and coordination required in cutting their own food and from our experience, kids LOVE to cut with their own knives!

2) Encourages Self-Feeding

Eating independently is an important milestone for toddlers and all young kids. Giving them the right tools for self-feeding is key to help them practice this essential skill. A children’s cutlery set gives kids the autonomy to feed themselves. This then helps with their sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Self-feeding also helps them develop patience and focus, as they learn to control the speed and movement of their little utensils.

When children are encouraged to use their own cutlery, they feel a greater sense of pride in completing the task on their own. This is going to improve their overall sense of self-worth. When their cutlery set looks just like mum and dad's? They going to feel like they're just as big!

3) Building Confidence

As above, when children are able to successfully use utensils to feed themselves, they experience a sense of achievement. Getting that carrot or piece of pasta on to a fork? Win! Managing to get the yoghurt in to their mouth? How cool am I? Not to mention the feeling when they CUT their own dinner up or butter their own bread!

This success, however small, significantly boosts their confidence. As children begin to master the use of a utensils, they recognise what they are capable of achieving independently. This confidence carries over into other areas of life, from interacting with others to learning new skills.

Parents and caregivers can help reinforce this confidence even further by offering positive feedback. Encourage children to take pride in their accomplishments.

4) Fosters Independence

Independence is a key developmental goal during the early years of childhood. A little bear learning how to feed themselves is one of the first ways they gain a sense of autonomy (and I won't lie... unfortunately also one of the messiest!)

A children’s cutlery set empowers kids to make choices about how they want to eat, what foods on their plate they want to try first. By allowing them to take charge of their own mealtime, we can help with their sense of ownership over the process.

The Overall Role of Mealtime in Developing Independence

Mealtime is an important part of daily life. It plays a crucial role in the development of independence and confidence. When young kids use a children’s cutlery set, mealtime becomes an opportunity for them to practice their growing skills and feel a sense of accomplishment. The simple act of holding a fork and spoon or cutting with their own knife can help to have a significant impact on their self-esteem.

In addition, mealtime routines help children develop social and emotional skills. Sharing meals with family members or peers, and seeing that they're included in the mealtime ritual with their own "big person" cutlery allows children to feel seen and included.

How to Choose the Right Children’s Cutlery Set

When selecting a children’s cutlery set, there are several important factors to consider:

• Size and Weight: The utensils should be lightweight and small enough for your child to handle comfortably. Look for sets that are specifically designed for the child’s age group to ensure it actually will help with the above mentioned skills. 
• Materials: You know we were always going to bring this one up! When looking at children's utensils, we can't underestimate the important for their health (and the planet's!) in choosing safe materials. Make sure their cutlery is made from non-toxic and plastic-free materials and that it is durable. Little bears put a lot of strength in to wielding their cutlery, so you need to make sure it is up to the task! That's why we went with the highest quality food-grade 18/8 (304) stainless steel you can source.
• Design: As mentioned, little bears want to feel like they're capable enough to use the same type of utensils as those big people around them. Choose a set that doesn't look so "little kid" and help your child feel a sense of importance at the dinner table.
• Safety Features: Make sure the edges of the utensils are rounded and smooth to prevent harm. Children's cutlery sets shouldn't have sharp edges on the knives or forks, which is another reason to opt for the safer, age-appropriate and specifically made for children designs.
  

(Hint: EcoCubs Children's Cutlery Set checks all of these boxes!)

How to Introduce a Children’s Cutlery Set

 Here are some tips for making the transition smooth (although if they're like my boys, they'll be going straight in, head first!):

• Start Slowly: If your child is new to self-feeding, begin with a spoon or fork they are comfortable with and gradually introduce the more complex utensils like knives.
• Make It Fun: Show them that they're eating just like mum and dad or their big friends, and make an effort to praise them for any little steps they take towards using their own cutlery.
• Be Patient: Learning to use utensils is a process that takes time. Celebrate small successes and be encouraging when accidents happen & try not to worry about the mess.
• Model the Behaviour: Show your child how to use the utensils properly by modelling the behaviour during meals with various foods and textures. When they do it appropriately, make sure you show them that you noticed!

My Final Thoughts

Using a specifically designed children's cutlery set is more than just a tool for eating – it’s a vital part of fostering independence and confidence in young kids at meal times. By encouraging self-feeding, you're helping your little bear to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and offering them a sense of accomplishment.

With the right set (*cough* EcoCubs), mealtime can be a learning and developmental experience that not only nourishes the body but also promotes little one's milestones as they grow x