chopsticks for a toddler?

Good question - I've been wondering myself since I bought a pair of baby chopsticks at the store. They're blue and have a little ring that attaches to one of baby's fingers.

I think it depends on how often you use them. I cook a lot of Chinese food and we use them quite frequently, so our kids are pretty adept.

They started by using these. http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/toys/othertoys/nil/A950

They have those same things (kids chopsticks) at our local Children's Museum and Science Center.

I was an army brat and lived in Okinawa from 9 months to age three and was apparently adept at using chopsticks around age two.

I'd give him the chopsticks and let him spear away. He'll eventually find stuff that he can't spear, and then be motivated to learn how to use the chopsticks properly. I don't remember learning how to use them, so I probably learned around 3-4 years or earlier. But at 8-9 years, I was still spearing some things (like siu mai pork dumplings) because it was easier -- and more fun to eat them as shishkebab.

What a fun question. I've got a one-year old, so we're still working on using a spoon, but I'm sure that my mom will be teaching him how to use chopsticks as soon as he displays any interest.

My kids are totally unable to use chopsticks, but they have not had much practice. My friend from Japan, though, has 2 kids who are little chopstick experts. Her 2 y/o is as good as an adult at using them - I am so impressed! But, she uses chopsticks almost exclusively for eating.

My 3 yr old has been "sort of" using them since she was about 18 months. She just has her own unique strategy for it.
If you go to a restaurant with disposable chopsticks take a rubberband. If you fold up the paper they come in and place it about 3/4 of the way up and secure it with a rubber band it makes them really kid friendly.
Personally, I just let her sling food all over (as long as we're home) and she figured it out in her own time.

ETA- the paper and band make them sort of spring like so they stay in place and the child just has to squeeze them together around a piece of food. I never thought of it but i suppose with a piece of paper and rubber band you could do the same thing at home with real chopsticks.