Mealtimes – equipment
Equipment – plates
Use a plate or bowl that is stable and allows your child to use a knife and fork without food spilling. It also allows your child the ability to apply extra pressure without the plate moving around the table.
Ideas to help
• Place a non-slip mat (such as Dycem) or damp face cloth or tea towel under your child’s plate to stop
the plate moving on the table.
• Use a soup bowl, deep pasta bowl or a plate with a rim to prevent food spilling over the edge.
• Don’t overfill the bowl or plate.
• Place the bowl or plate centred in front of your child and not too far away from him/her.
Equipment – cups
• If your child is prone to spilling or tipping their drink try using a cup that is stable and is harder to tip
over as this will encourage your child to drink independently.
Ideas to help
• Try using a two-handled cup as this provides a better grip.
• Try using a weighted or slightly heavier cup – this is less likely to spill.
• If your child still has difficulties drinking from the cup, try using a cup with a lid or straw, or a sports
bottle.
Equipment – cutlery
By using cutlery appropriately your child is able to:
• Eat without help from others. Join in socially with the conversation at the table.
• Have a positive effect in school, also potentially improving pencil control.
Ideas to help
• Make sure cutlery is the right size for your child’s hands i.e. you may need to use smaller cutlery
before moving to adult-sized cutlery.
• Cutlery with thicker handles may be easier to hold or place some pipe insulation (from a DIY store) on
the handles as this may help your child to grip better. ‘Caring Cutlery’ is a specific brand of cutlery
which has moulded handles with places to put fingers. This makes it easier for your child to know how
to hold the cutlery so that stabbing and cutting the food is more successful. This cutlery can be
purchased from mobility shops or similar cutlery can be purchased from Ikea, or Boots.
• Try placing an elastic band around the end of the cutlery to prevent the fingers from sliding down when
cutting.