Spoon Use for Eating

Cannot use spoon; prefers fingers or spills extensively

• Holds spoon but doesn't use it
• Spoon upside down or sideways
• Food spills before reaching mouth
• Spoon turns upside down before reaching mouth
• May prefer fingers over spoon

Uses spoon but with frequent spilling

• Gets spoon to mouth sometimes
• Spoon may turn during transit
• Significant spilling still occurs
• Spoon reaches mouth right side up occasionally
• Requires high concentration for task

Gets spoon to mouth right side up, some spilling

• Spoon stays right side up most of the time
• Food usually doesn't spill
• May still have occasional spills
• Occasional loss of orientation
• Increasing consistency across meals

Uses spoon effectively with minimal spilling

• Spoon consistently right side up
• Little to no spilling
• Efficient self-feeding
• Spoon stays right side up throughout movement
• Rare spilling
• Can self-feed entire meal with spoon

Uses spoon skillfully with various foods

• No spilling
• Can handle different food textures
• May begin using fork as well
• Uses spoon while engaged in conversation
• No spilling even when distracted
• Can adjust technique for different foods