Does anybody have an easy way to explain how to use chopsticks to kids?

i would like step by step directions, so i can explain to my son and his cousins how to use chopsticks.

i would like step by step directions, so i can explain to my son and his cousins how to use chopsticks. I've demonstrated how to use it, but they cannot get the fingering quite right. also my coworker wants to learn, and she is having a difficult time. (i didn't teach her) the best way I've utilized in the past was to pick up different sized objects, but the kids are having a hard time- the age range is 4-9 years old.

Demonstrating is far easier, and much more effective, than trying to explain it in words. The concepts involved are really quite complicated for the very young.

I heard an asian person say once that they were asked by a caucasian person "How do your children ever learn to use chopsticks?" Implying that they were more difficult to use than a knife, fork and spoon. The person replied "Just like your children learn to use a fork, knife and spoon - badly."

It is true, it is easier to demonstrate this - my father taught me to use them when I was eight, and although I don't eat asian food very often, and I now live in the midwest where chopsticks are not even at the place setting in an asian restaurant, but are available by request, I still use them with relative ease.

I have seen 'training' chopsticks around lately, which are flexible, and joined at one end, so they from a V. They look like they would be very easy to use.

Basically, you put one chopstick in your hand in the crook of your thumb, this one remains imobile. The other is held like a pencil, and you use your forefinger to control it. They can practice with pencils, if you have some on hand, and try picking up cotton balls, then gradually move to harder objects.

Have fun!

Some Japanese market have trading chap sticks for toddlers and for beginners. Toddlers are very small but for beginners are regular size. May be you should try that.

Like tying shoes, you gotta demonstrate . . . have kid sit on your lap, or stand behind him. Wrap your arm around, so that you both see the same thing. Demonstrate how to hold, how to use.

I just did web search just for you
So now when I see this again..
well.
http://www.robsworld.org/chopsticks.html

There's a good site at http://east.portland.ne.jp/~k_tok/life01... with animation, or http://www.ehow.com/how_3261_chopsticks.... (When I was learning how to use chopsticks, I used popcorn to practice - the pieces were small enough to be a challenge, but it wouldn't create a mess when I dropped them.)

At restaurants, sometimes they give kids chopsticks with the straw paper balled up between them to hold them apart, and a rubber band wrapped around both about a centimeter closer to the base. That way they can practice and have a little success before trying with just their fingers.

it's not something that is easy to master. it takes practice and it might be good to just demonstrate, let the kids watch and figure it out on their own. that's what happened with my son...i never taught him, he just picked it up on his own by watching me i guess.

What's wrong with fork and knife?! Do you use your finger when you eat indian food?! most of us not, so why to use chopsticks when you eat chines(and other similar cuisines )?!