Do/Would you allow your 10 year old to use knives?

Grumpelstiltskin

marlot wrote: »

At the primary school where I'm a governor, we had a child fall from a tree. Broke her arm.

Some parents wanted tree climbing banned.

I'm pleased to say that we did a health and safety review and decided that it was in the overall best interests of the children to allow them still to climb trees.

I can't abide children being wrapped in cotton wool for ever. There is a danger that they are treated as children right up until the point where they are suddenly an adult. Better that we gradually help them to make their own risk assessments and explore the world a bit more.

Oh how I agree with this. We are in danger of producing teenagers who have done nothing during their childhood apart from sitting watching TV and playing computer games. We then throw them out into the big wide world and they have no idea what it is about. No wonder some of them have no idea what to do when they get to university.


It's a huge mistake.

gayleygoo

I have occasionally let my 7 year old use a small, sharp knife to cut apples, carrots, peppers etc as a snack or to help me with cooking. I do hover over her shoulder the whole time though, I wouldn't leave her unsupervised at her age. I follow basic safety rules, like making sure she is sitting or standing in a safe place to do it, instruct her on how to hold the food and knife properly, and teach how knives should be carried, not left hanging over the edges of counter tops etc. She knows never to use a sharp knife without getting an adult to supervise, and has enough fear of them not to mess around.

OH has a scar on his leg from when his grandad was teaching him woodcarving at age 6. It taught him a lesson in safer knife use! I wish he'd been taught how to use a breadknife though, he still hacks loaves to bits...

I think age 10 is probably the latest I would want to start teaching a child about knife use (when they still listen to adults.) A teen who has never used one before is probably much more likely to cut a finger off!

mel48rose

Nowt wrong with a child of that age helping to learn to look after themselves by cooking under supervision. At least he will be able to look after himself should he go to uni etc.

j.e.j.

Common sense really, - I wouldn't let a young child use a sharp knife, as their fingers are so small and where an adult would just get a cut if the knife slipped, they could lose a finger or bleed badly.

But by the age of about 10 they're more adept and in some cases they're almost adult-sized anyway.

Newly_retired

I agree with all this.
My young grandson aged 6 is aware of the dangers of sharp knives, though not yet old enough to use them himself, but he loves to help clear up.
He said to his mum,"mummy , I want you to be careful when you wash up, cos I've just put a very sharp knife in the water and I don't want you to cut yourself on it,"!

shell_girl

I get my two year old to chop mushrooms for me using a 'normal' knife (as in one you would use to eat your meal). He loves helping. We do end up with very oddly shaped mushrooms. He also chops his own soft fruit, bananas strawberries etc. Start them young I say!

kingfisherblue

shell_girl wrote: »

I get my two year old to chop mushrooms for me using a 'normal' knife (as in one you would use to eat your meal). He loves helping. We do end up with very oddly shaped mushrooms. He also chops his own soft fruit, bananas strawberries etc. Start them young I say!

My son has Down's Syndrome and is 16. Mushrooms are one of his favourite foods. This morning, he was eating some for breakfast, and cut away the stalk. Then he sliced a small slice off the edge to eat it (he has feeding difficulties and needs to eat very small pieces). Anyway, the remaining part of the mushroom looked like a chair, according to my son! He showed me the arms and back of the chair, as well as the seat part (the mushroom was upside down, imagine the seat part being where the stalk was). He said it was small like a fairy's chair, but a fairy wouldn't sit on it because she would get a wet bum!


I remember being told many years ago that children with DS don't have imaginations, but the doctor's were so wrong!

emsywoo123

Agree whole heartedly with others - and DD (age 11) has dyspraxia so her co-ordination makes me weep at times!! We are just more careful, but she will leave me one day. Apparently. *sticks fingers in ears lalalalala*

My 4 year old (co-ordination of a ninja, no idea how he has the skills!) uses this from Pampered Chef (no I am not a rep!!) and they really are as good as they claim. Cuts perfectly, and yet doesn't cut people. Magic.

http://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cutlery/My+Safe+Cutter/2904

fluffnutter

WantToBeSE wrote: »

My friend thinks i am crazy to let him use kitchen knives to cut onions and vegetables etc. I am not sure what to think.

What age does she think is appropriate? Is there some magic switch that means that a 12 year old (for example) will automatically cut a finger off, yet a 13 year old will be fine?

The answer is, of course, is that it depends on the child.

fluffnutter

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Agree whole heartedly with others - and DD (age 11) has dyspraxia so her co-ordination makes me weep at times!! We are just more careful, but she will leave me one day. Apparently. *sticks fingers in ears lalalalala*

My 4 year old (co-ordination of a ninja, no idea how he has the skills!) uses this from Pampered Chef (no I am not a rep!!) and they really are as good as they claim. Cuts perfectly, and yet doesn't cut people. Magic.

http://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cutlery/My+Safe+Cutter/2904

My two year old uses one of these. They're great aren't they? He loves 'doing cutting' (probably a sociopath in the making ).