utensils for kids

Are you a parent who has a hard time getting their kids to eat their veggies? Or maybe you're like me and wince at the thought of a plate of steamed broccoli. Broccoli might not be much fun for kids, but put an engine sound behind it and their imagination might take over long enough to down those veggies.

Imagination might be enough for some kids but let's face it, toys make everything more fun. Add a little adventure to your next meal by combining toys with cutlery, don't forget to make the noises too!

This Instructable is entered in the Humana Health Challenge.

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enough talk, let's eat some broccoli make some cutlery!

Step 1 Tools + materials

Almost any toy can be used to for this project, here's some criteria to consider when selecting toys to use:

• can toy be easily disassembled/reassembled?
• can toy accept a long flat metal addition?
• is the toy easily modified?

Depending on your toy selection you may encounter all or none of the issues listed above. The important thing is to plan out your choices in advance. I got all my toys at the Dollar Store, they were a mix of metal and plastic toys and some were easier to work on than others.

tools: screwdriver marker hacksaw utility knife vice / clamp

materials: sugru toys ($dollar) utensils (fork, spoon, knife, etc.) . .

Comments

[gmulligan]

Would these be dishwasher safe?

[mikeasaurus]

It depends on what toys you use and what they are made from. Some plastic might melt and certain metals could leach during the wash cycle. The sugru is completely dishwasher safe, however!

[CatTrampoline]

Totally love it!!! When my son was a monophage toddler, I let him eat using a toy loader as a spoon. Whatever works :-)

I'm putting this in my cool aunt/grandma someday file.

[vishalapr]

I wanted to make the jet one but I didn't have a jet in hand so I searched and used this hot wheels car! Just used some sanding on the card bottom and some sugru to attach it all together and viola!

I know there is some more of the spoon sticking out in the front but I did not have a drill press or anything so I was unable to cut it...but the hot wheels car works as a great handle!

[patriots8888]

cool here is my tigork (tiger fork)

[mikeasaurus]

nice job, he looks ferocious!

[patriots8888]

thanks!

[fallental]

-Does the toy have lead paint? Haha, nice instructables. 4 stars from me

[kibukun]

Wait, you're kidding me right? Toys are made for children who are expected to put stuff like that into their mouths. So no. I doubt these or any toys have lead in them... unless they're stupid enough...

[hvansick]

It has been found that many toys marketed directly to children contain lead paint illegally (there was a huge problem with children swallowing small toys and getting lead poisoning a few years back), so it may be a legitimate concern when purchasing second-hand/cheaper toys. Either that or just work with your kids to not put the toy portion itself in their mouths. :)

[DIY Dave]

That's what I was wondering.

[Becky Jane]

Your Instructable is great! I would like to share this with my readers on my blog at: http://wheelchairdecor.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think!

Thanks, Becky Jane

[mikeasaurus]

Glad you like them, they were a fun build!
As for sharing this project with your blog readers, go nuts!
Thanks for the heads-up!

[Becky Jane]

Does that mean yes or no?

[mikeasaurus]

haha, 'go nuts' means yes.

[projectsugru]

Hi mikeasaurus, awesome utensils :) I love the head fork, actually, I love them all
James

[mikeasaurus]

Thanks James, glad you liked them. The fork-head is a favourite of mine too. Dinnertime is always fun with these guys hanging around.

[seamster]

Hey, these are pretty cool!

But we'd have a real issue with these at my house, as they would physically contradict our two mealtime rules:

1. No toys at the table.
2. Don't eat with your fingers.

[omnibot]

I like it though I am a little concerned as to washing the utensils, seems there could be plenty of corners in the toys to promote germgrowth.

[cyclohexane]

True but....how many of us actually wash our silverware/cutlery by hand anyways? Sticking them into the dishwasher would kill any germ growth that would accumulate. Or i guess you could always make your kids wear rubber gloves so that the utensils wouldn't get all "germed" up from your hands and put plastic bags over the utensils as well.

Mikeasaurus, I think this is a great idea, you could take your idea and get a patent, and make millions! Great Job! I will remember this when i have kids!

[kibukun]

I don't think that he's concerned about the children' hands germing them up. I think he means the food itself ending up on the toys.

[cyclohexane]

Like i said throw them in the dish washer, with the exception of constant pressure a dishwasher is practically an autoclave.....making the utensils "sterile". I learned this from my microbiology class. =)

[Neovenetar]

the knife reminds me of a chainsaw, but I don't know why...

[deathpod]

I want a knife truck! I can play with it at the table, in the dirt, or in the bath!

[kibukun]

Watch out, it's FORKFACE!!!

[CementTruck]

This is a cool idea....but that fork is disturbing. :) I really like the knife.

[MikeyUM]

So cool !!! Really good idea for the ones who love toys !!!... Nice im gonna try that

[canemaker49]

i wasn't sure what sugru was, so i looked it up. seems like some great stuff. i am going to order some. this stuff has some great uses. i am going to incorporate this into my cane making. see how it works out. the kids utensils is a great idea. i thought of making some for my gran kids. on the site however it not recommended for use with food. maybe you know something i don't. is this safe for the kids to use?

• sugru isn’t suitable for use in direct or prolonged contact with food.
• Keep out of reach of children.

[mikeasaurus]

thanks for the comment canemaker49.

Regarding sugru, always follow the advice of the manufacturer. However in this project the sugru is nowhere near where the food should be placed with normal eating habits. And, unless you plan to jam the entire utensil in your mouth for hours at a time or leave food directly on the small amount of sugru located inside the toys and eat later, you're not in any danger. It should go without saying that kids eating anything not intended for human digestion is a bad idea, sugru, plastic toys, an entire fork, etc. Use common sense when making yours.

There are alternatives to sugru, depending on your desired characteristics of the bond. Hot glue would work, but the bond may be weak. Welding my be an option, provided you have the tools and the metals can be bonded easily. 2-part epoxy could work, but may hold similar cautions as the sugru. Ultimately I chose sugru because it was the easiest to work with, was on hand, and exhibited the best combinations of charateristics required to work in harmony with utensils (dishwasher safe, permanent). If you make this project with a better method I would be happy to know and include it in this project.

Good luck on your build, and post some pictures here when you're done. I'd love to see your take on this project!

[canemaker49]

i was concerned with the sugru coming in contact with the food itself. or perhaps the child licking the area of the sugru. i think this a great ible and a great idea. i know how my gran kids are with food though, lol. i guess it doesn't help that grandpaw starts the food fight, lol. any way thanks for letting me know about sugru, this stuff has a lot of possibilities. i will be careful when i make some for the kids,

[MillenniumMan]

Woody: (through his voice box) Reach for the sky!

Sid Phillips: Huh?

Woody: This town ain't big enough for the two of us!

Sid Phillips: What?

Woody: Somebody's poisoned the waterhole!

Sid Phillips: It's busted.

Woody: Who are you calling busted, Buster?

Sid Phillips: Huh?

Woody: That's right! I'm talking to you, Sid Philips! We don't like being blown up, Sid. Or smashed, or torn apart.

Sid Phillips: (hyperventilating) W-we?

Woody: That's right, your toys! (Toys get up and surround the terrified Sid)

Woody: From now on, you must take good care of your toys, because if you don't, we'll find out, Sid!

Woody: (while turning head around slowly) We toys can see EVERYTHING!

Woody: (speaking and moving) So play nice!

(Sid screams and runs inside)

[mikeasaurus]

someone's poisoned the water hole!

[Mike44]

Are these dishwasher safe?? :) Haha, just kidding. In all honesty though, this is a great idea! Anything to get kids to eat some vegetables!

[Trilby]

I just don't see what Americans have a against broccoli... It's nice with a roast dinner and such things...

[C-glenny]

I didn't know Americans have something against broccoli... but I do think a lot of people have something against vegetables!

I love broccoli! But I do think I'm in the minority. I'd totally make these to eat my broccoli with.

[DesignerUserName]

Agreed!

[Pe-ads]

Thirded!

I don't like broccoli by itself that much, but with stuff it's quite nice. Especially a broccoli and cheese bake. Mmmmmm....

[permutation-jim]

Great idea, though I agree with Kirbsome... the solider looks like you're eating with Cthulhu.

[M.C. Langer]

Simple but awesome!!!!!! :-)

[Wasagi]

Time to get on this!