Development of eating skills in children: Spoon manipulation while eating curry and rice

Abstract

　During infancy, children gradually become able to manipulate utensils in accordance with the development of motor and cognitive abilities. Previous studies on the development of eating skills have mainly examined infants and preschoolers. However, even after preschool age, eating skills continue to develop and become more refined and sophisticated with age. This study examined the development of eating skills after early childhood self-feeding ability had been acquired. Eleven 5-year-old children and sixteen adults were observed while eating curry and rice with spoons. The young children’s spoon manipulations were found to be somewhat simple. For example, food was picked up with a spoon and brought to their mouths in a single action. In contrast, the spoon manipulations of the adults were more complex and complicated. They first gathered the curry and rice into one area and then adjusted the amount and shape for easier intake. The children were frequently observed lifting the plate and sliding the food directly into their mouths. This behavior was never seen in the adult subjects. The adults often performed more refined, coordinated movements using their right and left hands and fingers (e.g., lifting or turning a dish with one’s left hand to more easily pick up rice using a spoon in one’s right hand). The results suggested that self-feeding skills using a spoon are acquired up to the end of preschool age; however, after this period of time, spoon manipulation becomes more multi-functional with age.