Many parents wonder… How can I introduce knives to my child safely? This guide will help do exactly that by providing safety guidelines and some everyday examples of those guidelines being put to good use.
Modeling Good Behavior
The first rule in teaching knife safety, of course, is to practice safe knife usage yourself. Note how, in the following video, this Mom is showing her kids, up close and personal, how to properly grip and toss a set of throwing knives.
Keeping the Knife Out of Harm’s Way
Once you’ve decided your child is ready to handle a knife, one of the most important rules of knife safety is to make sure the blade is kept safely away from other people. In this next video, Dad shows his son how to wield a Samurai sword to slice a watermelon clean in half. Note how the child is observing three important rules of knife safety:
- Always keep your eye on the blade to make it remains safely out of harm’s way
- Always have an adult nearby to supervise
- Ensure the knife has full clearance from other people throughout its entire range of motion
Knives Are Not Toys
Your child must learn that knives are to be taken seriously. Knives are not toys to be tossed around carelessly. The knife owner should have full concentration on the blade at all times.
Note how, in the following example, this fine young knife student is wielding three knives simultaneously while still managing to maintain correct posture, technique and concentration.
Safe Knife Choices
Should you feel your child is ready to own his own knife, do some research to figure out which blade might be best. The ‘Kfitzi’ is an Israeli model that has been marketed for kids. It might be just the right choice. Check out the following video from the Kfitzi makers themselves:
Goals
If you follow the rules above, you may find your child can grow up to have a lifelong appreciation for knives and to respect the safety hazard they can be.
With a little luck, you may find your child can accomplish some amazing feats with these tools. The boy in this final video displays his skills in a martial arts competition — no doubt a reflection of the responsible parenting provided him.
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June 28th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
[...] Found at Only Knives via Dark Roasted Blend. [...]
July 17th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
In the “Throwing Mom” segment, notice that the key to success is “focus” and “concentration” on the part of the mom and kids.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
[...] Maddox is going to have to be watched carefully. Let’s just hope he doesn’t read our Not-So-Safe Safety Guide before giving it a [...]
October 14th, 2008 at 8:26 am
one day my friend was at home and i was over and she was handing a knife to her mom but the blade was pointing towards her stomach and she trip over her own foot and the knive went in to her stomach and now she has a scar and suffers with achs and pains almost everyday so i think parents should get the knife when thay need it not there kids… and i was only 8 years old it was a horrible night… i will never forget it now im 32 years old and i was reaaly bad
November 14th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
The juggling knives look like my set of Dube knives for juggling. The only danger with these is if you get the point in the eye, otherwise you could catch these by the edge and have no injuries.