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 handwriting.
While some kids pick it up faster than others, other kids might need a little bit more practice. But that’s okay, for there are easier ways how to get them used to chopsticks. Just remember that there should be no rush in having them learn and it’s normal if they don’t pick it up right away.
Helping your child master the art of dining with chopsticks should not be a daunting task. While it may not be the easiest thing to teach how to use chopsticks for kids, you can still 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
The first step to teaching how to use chopsticks for kids is simple. Just 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 how to use chopsticks for kids!
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 how to use chopsticks for kids.
Another fun technique on how to use chopsticks for kids is to create “training chopsticks” using a rubber band!
Here’s how to assemble it so your child can start learning how to use chopsticks for kids at home.
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.
What Should I Use to Practice?
Before we get started on how to hold chopsticks, we encourage you to work on a goal. Use certain objects or food you wish to practice on.
A great example of this would be learning how to use chopsticks for rice. Don’t let the size of the rice fool you. One of the easiest ways to get used to using chopsticks on your food starts with rice.
The sticky consistency of rice helps in how to use chopsticks for beginners. Because of this, we suggest that newbies cook rice with a stickier consistency than other types.
Once you get the hang of things, it’s time to learn how to use chopsticks for sushi or gimbap (seaweed rolls). These beloved meals help beginners advance their skills.
When you learn how to use chopsticks for sushi, your hands familiarise themselves with picking up food of varying sizes. Moreover, the rolls help you manage your grip to keep the compressed food from falling.
Image Source: iStock
Afterwards, we encourage you to challenge yourself and learn how to use chopsticks for ramen. Start off by gripping dry noodles with your chopsticks.
If you learn how to use chopsticks with dry noodles, it helps you get used to gripping the food. With the soup, the ramen noodles feature a watery texture that makes them slip off your chopsticks.
Due to these challenges, parents usually teach how to use chopsticks for kids using sticky or dry noodles. They also separate the soup to keep their children from making a mess with their ramen.
On most occasions, using chopsticks on your ramen or noodle soups makes them taste better. With that said, this meal helps beginners get used to using chopsticks on food with different textures.
Learn How to Hold Chopsticks: Easy and Stress-Free
Much like learning how to use chopsticks for kids, experienced users often recommend using your dominant hand. However, we also encourage you to just use the hand with the best grip.
Once you determine which hand you want to use, you can now start learning how to hold chopsticks, easy and stress-free. Follow the simple steps below for practice:
- Learn how to hold chopsticks from a table setting.
- With your chosen hand, grip the chopsticks with 2 or 3 fingers along with your thumb. By doing this, you prevent your hands from holding the chopsticks clumsily.
- Avoid making a sound when picking up your chopsticks. This step is necessary to prevent glares from experienced chopstick users. Some cultures also consider it rude if you use your chopsticks loudly.
- Position your group around the top third of the chopsticks. With this, you have a better grip on picking up food.
- Align the tip of your thumb near the top.
- Use the rest of your three fingers to navigate and grip the chopsticks near the thumb.
- Make sure the first chopstick is properly positioned between your thumb and forefinger.
- Align the inner edge of the first chopstick on your ring finger.
- Refrain from moving the bottom chopstick and let the top chopstick direct you in gripping the food.
Image Source: iStock
Different Types of Chopsticks You Should Know About
When you teach how to use chopsticks to kids, you should familiarise them with the different types they might encounter. By learning this, you and your children can practice before travelling to the countries that use them regularly.
Different Asian cultures adapted to using chopsticks to eat their food. However, experienced users name these three types of chopsticks that everyone should know about.
Chinese Chopsticks
Learning how to use chopsticks for rice and noodles helps you get used to using this type. You can determine Chinese chopsticks from other styles by taking note of their length.
Chinese chopsticks usually measure around 11 inches. The length helps users share food with people they’re dining with. They also feature blunt ends that provide a steadier hold on food.
Japanese Chopsticks
Unlike their Chinese counterparts, Japanese chopsticks measure around 8 inches long. They also feature sharper or pointed tips compared to other types of chopsticks.
The length and tips help users navigate smaller food. They’re more useful for those who want to learn how to use chopsticks for sushi. Additionally, the sharp tips help you pick out bones from your food.
Korean Chopsticks
Compared to the earlier styles we mentioned, common Korean chopsticks are crafted with flat bodies. This feature helps them from rolling around your table.
When you buy flat Korean chopsticks, they usually come in a set with a long rounded spoon. This chopstick style is traditionally made with metal measuring around 9 to 10 inches.
This article was updated by Kaira De la Rosa.