DIY Adaptive Utensils
Does Your Child Need help holding utensils?
If you have a child that just needs a “little extra grip” but not necessarily girth, you can use “liner” for your kitchen drawers. There is a “sticky, padded” liner that has a mild adhesive on both sides. Simply cut however much you need to make it as thick as you need, and then wrap it around the utensil. This way, it will give just enough extra “grip” so that the utensil doesn’t slip out of their hand. When you are finished using it, simply “unwrap” the liner from the utensil and discard. Easy!
Foam Eggs: A useful idea.
Additionally, another great idea you can try is to use “foam eggs”. They come in different sizes and are available from craft stores like Joanne’s, Michael’s, or Hobby Lobby. They also sell items called “foam toolkits” (they’re usually over with the floral department, and they have different inserts, a serrated knife, and a little tool on the end to help you make holes). When you pick the size of egg you feel will work best, all you need to do is use the little sharpener (you could certainly, CAREFULLY, use a small knife, screwdriver, etc…) and put a hole in the center of your egg. Then, just twist, twist, twist until you make the opening as big as you need in order to insert your utensil. Voila! You now have a perfect gripper. It’s easy because you can use the smaller “eggs” for smaller hands and the bigger “eggs” for bigger hands. You might also choose to use a foam wreath. You can cut out the length of the foam wreath needed (some utensils are longer than others, for example) and then place your knife or fork in the foam. The wreath works well because it is “curved” and aids in helping your child get the correct “angle” with which to hold their utensil.
I hope these tips help you! If you have any questions, please feel free to email Parenting Special Needs Magazine ([email protected] [2]). We always enjoy sharing tips and tricks like this, especially when they are inexpensive and easy for parents to do. Plus, it is easy to customize and adapt it for what your particular need.
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This post originally appeared on our September/October 2017 Magazine [14]