Adaptations: Tongs like these are most suited for kids who have the fine motor strength, fine motor coordination, and emerging separation of hand sides to start pinching and pulling items apart or grasping utensils (typically around age three years old). When first using these tongs, it’s helpful to place a sticker where the pointer and middle finger should be positioned. It’s also helpful to give simple verbal cues with a clear demonstration and fading physical assistance: I.e. “squeeze, open, squeeze, open” with the adult helping to squeeze and open the tongs the first one or two times, then letting the kid squeeze and open it on her own. Two many verbal cues and too much physical assistance is actually a hindrance to learning this motor skill. So I’ll say it as kindly yet frankly as I can: back off and hush up after the first couple of tries!