Your knives, and your kids... Knife safety and common sense.

[JTmisterknifeguy]

Hey guys,

I've seen one or two threads posted on this subject, but I feel it's integral to blade culture, parenting, Family, life experience, responsibility, and common sense reasoning with the "Protectionists" that are overtaking our country.
I don't think this topic can be over discussed...

Here's a larger part of my collection, and as you can see, most of the major categories are well represented here:



I'm wanting to bring up (or revive) the subject of exposing and training your child(ren), especially young children (mine's two), to be able to safely use and own knives. I have seen a few good ideas, and I intend on using/integrating some of them in my own child rearing/knife safety.

Furthermore, how do you reassure a hmmmm, how do I say it...
a wife/mother who DID NOT grow up around pocket/outdoor/tactical knives (or firearms), and thinks that only creepy weirdos obsess over knives/carry anything other than a single SAK keychain number?

The reason this has moved to the front burner for me is because I watched some of Nutnfancy's videos (probably my fave YouTube guy).
Specifically,

The Awesome Daughter:
https://youtu.be/avmVcn1JU30

Dangerous Things:
https://youtu.be/7dE4UgY7lgI

And, Children of the Gun:
https://youtu.be/BrorxilPMFo

(Mods, if linking to YouTube isn't kosher, in this way, my apologies, tell me and I'll fix it.)

He brings up very many points concerning the raising of our children to be comfortable and competent (but not complacent!) with all sorts of dangerous things, flying in the face of our silly (but pervasive) "protectionist" culture.
I'm wanting my little girl to know about, respect, know how to care for and use knives, tools, firearms, and motorized vehicles at a relatively early age. I feel that in the end, if I'm successful, she'll be safer, more confident, and waaaay more ready for life than a majority of the sheeple our generation is pumping out.

I'm also trying to take into account how I was raised (around knives, tools and firearms), as well as reconciling it with how my wife was raised,
(being the oldest of three girls, by a single mom, and (for most of her life) believing that males were macho, ignorant, rutting, swaggering idiots... A ton of dudes throughout her life strengthened that crappy notion.) I addressed the spouse subject at length a while ago here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1131282-The-knife-disliking-spouse

Yeah, I know...
Been busting my a$$ to reverse this perception, hence I really am wanting to do this "training" with my kiddo in the most common sense way possible, sticking to my guns, but being a gentlemanly advocate for what is to us simple "hardware".

When I die (I'm pretty young, so a while from now hopefully) my kids will get my knives, even if I only have girls, and I'd want her/them to appreciate them.

What would you guys have to say/add to this?
I know there's a TON of quality guys here (especially in the BK&T subforum) who have or are currently going through this right now, and have had experience in this.
This is a deep subject, and I think it warrants deep thoughtful discussion.
Appreciate it guys.

-JT

 

[CM_Rick]

I've had my son (now 12) around my knives his entire life. While a toddler I just simply taught him they were dangerous like the stove, or broken glass. I let him dabble with knives at 5-8, then at 9 he got full knife training. We're boy scouts, so knife, and gun training came as needed. Now he is very responsible, and well disciplined with both tools. He's not afraid. He's respectful. I believe this is key.

 

[not2sharp]

.....Furthermore, how do you reassure a hmmmm, how do I say it...
a wife/mother who DID NOT grow up around pocket/outdoor/tactical knives (or firearms), and thinks that only creepy weirdos obsess over knives/carry anything other than a single SAK keychain number?.....

-JT

Just take away all of her kitchen knives and limit her to one of those keychain thinggies....it won't be long before she figures it out.

n2s

 

[JTmisterknifeguy]

Just take away all of her kitchen knives and limit her to one of those keychain thinggies....it won't be long before she figures it out.

n2s

I think that'd work on some folks/ladies, and the logic makes sense for us, but unfortunately with my spouse, as naturally logical (nearly Vulcan-like!) as she is on 97% of things, I think it'd reinforce the knife-obsessed male butthead stereotype.

She's also in the medical field, and therefore, highly educated, and hears about all the tragedies and stupidity of "the public".
It's a visceral/non-logical response, and for her, firearms are worse.
Her and I are compatible on 95% of things, this falls into the 5%.
Again, for my kid(s), for myself, for all my knife collecting/carrying/using brethren,
I'm an ambassador.

Like I said:

I'm also trying to take into account how I was raised (around knives, tools and firearms), as well as reconciling it with how my wife was raised,
(being the oldest of three girls, by a single mom, and (for most of her life) believing that males were macho, ignorant, rutting, swaggering idiots... A ton of dudes throughout her life strengthened that crappy notion.) I addressed the spouse subject at length a while ago here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...sliking-spouse

Yeah, I know...
Been busting my a$$ to reverse this perception, hence I really am wanting to do this "training" with my kiddo in the most common sense way possible, sticking to my guns, but being a gentlemanly advocate for what is to us simple "hardware".

 

[TBL]

Children tend to gravitate towards things that peak their interest (good and bad). By 'normalizing' the tools we use for survival by teaching our children how to use them properly and safely, they tend to respect them more and lose that negative style curiosity (them doing things on their own). It also teaches them valuable life skills!

The lessons should be tailored to the child based on comprehension, ability to follow direction, and respect. If one is not there or you doubt them for a second; they are not ready.

It is natural for a child to gravitate towards things you enjoy. They see how much you like and appreciate things and they wish to be included in it. By taking the time to foster that curiosity and positively reinforce that good behaviour with the teachings of a life skill, you will be setting them down the road to success.

I started teaching my son to whittle and shoot (starting with a single shot pellet gun, now he has a single shot .22) when he was 4. My daughter because of the 3 criteria I listed above plus being more mature, I started at age 3. In all our activities I am always right there with them to help correct or prevent any mistakes. They are good to the point where I can now sit between them, give them a BK11 and BK13 and supervise them making tent pegs (or practice taking the bark off a branch).

They realise that should they at any time stop listening to me that the 'fun' stops.

Children cannot learn everything out of a book. They need to get out there, get dirty, and try things first hand. You gain knowledge and experience by observation and the practice of skills. You can't expect them to see something or read about it and automatically just do it. The youth of today are sadly losing many of these basic skills and abilities because they just are not common practice. I for one want my children to be able to survive anything (god forbid) something happen to me.

Princess Anna never looked so good in the movie.... My princess dresses like her and can handle a KA BAR (3 years old).

Need some wood processed for a fire? I got a 5 year old for that. Its not a chore to him, its just fun to swing a hatchet.

Take your time, hold safety in the highest regard, and have fun.

(not in picture frame is my brother in-law standing right behind him as I took the photo - safety first )

 

[JTmisterknifeguy]

Children tend to gravitate towards things that peak their interest (good and bad). By 'normalizing' the tools we use for survival by teaching our children how to use them properly and safely, they tend to respect them more and lose that negative style curiosity (them doing things on their own). It also teaches them valuable life skills!

The lessons should be tailored to the child based on comprehension, ability to follow direction, and respect. If one is not there or you doubt them for a second; they are not ready.

It is natural for a child to gravitate towards things you enjoy. They see how much you like and appreciate things and they wish to be included in it. By taking the time to foster that curiosity and positively reinforce that good behaviour with the teachings of a life skill, you will be setting them down the road to success.

I started teaching my son to whittle and shoot (starting with a single shot pellet gun, now he has a single shot .22) when he was 4. My daughter because of the 3 criteria I listed above plus being more mature, I started at age 3. In all our activities I am always right there with them to help correct or prevent any mistakes. They are good to the point where I can now sit between them, give them a BK11 and BK13 and supervise them making tent pegs (or practice taking the bark off a branch).

They realise that should they at any time stop listening to me that the 'fun' stops.

Children cannot learn everything out of a book. They need to get out there, get dirty, and try things first hand. You gain knowledge and experience by observation and the practice of skills. You can't expect them to see something or read about it and automatically just do it. The youth of today are sadly losing many of these basic skills and abilities because they just are not common practice. I for one want my children to be able to survive anything (god forbid) something happen to me.

Princess Anna never looked so good in the movie.... My princess dresses like her and can handle a KA BAR (3 years old).

Need some wood processed for a fire? I got a 5 year old for that. Its not a chore to him, its just fun to swing a hatchet.

Take your time, hold safety in the highest regard, and have fun.

(not in picture frame is my brother in-law standing right behind him as I took the photo - safety first )

Dude!
Gimme a second....
(Dabs eyes with Kleenex)
That is freaken inspirational!
You get it!!
Your kids, which are amazing by the way, are going to enter adolescence with far more confidence and capability than many of their peers. On top of that, all of those times spent with "dangerous things" are opportunities for bonding and creating important life lessons, as well as helping them be overall safer in their surroundings.
Man alive,
So glad to see this.
This is what Nutn was talking about.
I'm glad to be part of a community that embraces passing this stuff down to the next generation.

You sir, rock!
-JT

 

[granitestateofmind]

Just take away all of her kitchen knives and limit her to one of those keychain thinggies....it won't be long before she figures it out.

n2s

While this made me laugh, it may not be the best way to start things off....but it does lead to an important point and perhaps an entre into - at least - the knife part of the equation. Fact: The average adult uses a knife several times a day. Where? Well, duh. Start your child(ren) in the kitchen - because they're going to need to learn to cook so they can take care of you in your old age. Start small, like plastic knives and strawberries small.....and work your way up from there. Part of the problem is that, as with adults (some more than others: my wife (also a doctor and non-knife enthusiast) has cut herself more than a few times in the kitchen), accidents may happen - so be prepared and also maybe practice a little first aid stuff (cause that's an important part of safety, IMO).

As for the rest - I don't really know. Aside from a .22 air rifle (that no one else in my family can cock, let alone load a pellet) there aren't guns in my house. But we do have archery - which is actually good for kids' brain development, believe it or not. Could even improve their schoolwork (surprisingly - but true) and is one of the top ten sports for kids with ADD/ADHD. For some good ideas that include the developmental reasoning to go with, see if you can find a copy of "50 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do" by Gever Tulley; He has a couple TED videos as well that are pretty fun/informative - and I'll hazard a guess he'd be a lot better ambassador for what you're trying to achieve with your spouse than nutnfancy.

[video]https://www.ted.com/talks/gever_tulley_on_5_dangerous_things_for_kids?langua ge=en#[/video]

Good luck. I'm still working on it and my girls are 14 & 10......

 

[JTmisterknifeguy]

While this made me laugh, it may not be the best way to start things off....but it does lead to an important point and perhaps an entre into - at least - the knife part of the equation. Fact: The average adult uses a knife several times a day. Where? Well, duh. Start your child(ren) in the kitchen - because they're going to need to learn to cook so they can take care of you in your old age. Start small, like plastic knives and strawberries small.....and work your way up from there. Part of the problem is that, as with adults (some more than others: my wife (also a doctor and non-knife enthusiast) has cut herself more than a few times in the kitchen), accidents may happen - so be prepared and also maybe practice a little first aid stuff (cause that's an important part of safety, IMO).

As for the rest - I don't really know. Aside from a .22 air rifle (that no one else in my family can cock, let alone load a pellet) there aren't guns in my house. But we do have archery - which is actually good for kids' brain development, believe it or not. Could even improve their schoolwork (surprisingly - but true) and is one of the top ten sports for kids with ADD/ADHD. For some good ideas that include the developmental reasoning to go with, see if you can find a copy of "50 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do" by Gever Tulley; He has a couple TED videos as well that are pretty fun/informative - and I'll hazard a guess he'd be a lot better ambassador for what you're trying to achieve with your spouse than nutnfancy.

[video]https://www.ted.com/talks/gever_tulley_on_5_dangerous_things_for_kids?langua ge=en#[/video]

Good luck. I'm still working on it and my girls are 14 & 10......

Thanks!
This is an epic response you made here, and I'll try to just point out just a few things you've said, though it all resonates.
Like I've said dozens of times, my knife fancy is a delicate subject in my marriage as it is/was, and now with a little one, it's been cause to revisit the serious implications of the often very dangerous world we live in.
I love the idea of integrating cutlery as I begin having her help me/watch me in the kitchen, and I can easily do that being a stay at home daddy (at least for now).
I'm going to be bloodhounding that book now, and I'll read it cover to cover.
Very encouraging.
Glad to hear there are other medical spouses with non-knife mates, makes me perceive myself less "whipped" (I don't feel personally feel that way, but I think that's the impression a "nice hubby" gives some people) and isolated.

I appreciate it man.
-JT

 

[gonebad395]

I have a 15 year old that I have had shooting since 8 years old around 10 he flipped around with a loaded gun on the firing line excited about a shot I came unglued and told him this isn't a video game people don't come back etc etc. Flip forward my 4 year old daughter shoots and owns her own pocket knife she uses when camping and respects it but I have drilled correct usage to her and I'm starting with her 2 year old twin brother and sister. I'm very causious with tools that can be weapons. Which in my eyes are guns and knives I have been around these things my entire life since around 5 then military and hunting. which I want to pass to my kids just use your best judgment you will know when they are ready.

 

[Jonny1280]

I have a 5 yr old daughter who is turning 6 next month.
When she was 4 I got her a pink hammer and a few tools so she could "help" me with projects.
I've always tried to teach her the safe and proper way to use tools.
Through out this last year I've supervised her using her pink and white BK14 a few times.
First off, I let her know that it is a tool. It is designed to cut and slice. It's not a weapon.
So far she's been very receptive.
I can relate with the OP. My wife isn't anti gun or knife, but she will have nothing to do with either.
She would rather me wait until our daughter is older to teach her about guns and knives.
I'll wait a few more years on the gun stuff, but I'd rather her learn about proper knife handling now at an early age.
I think spending just a little time here and there is a good start and as she grows so will her experience and understanding.
Each tool and knife lesson always begins with Safety First talks.

 

[mac_heath]

I started my kids on knives fairly early, 5 or 6 I think. I bought them each a mora knife. They came in bright colors, were inexpensive, and had a decent plastic sheath. I found that fixed blades were generally safer, as there's no lock or spring to worry about. Their second knives were opinels. Slipjoints like the scout knives are difficult for a child to open. Their fingernails are not strong enough. The opinel locks both open and closed, the lock is generally easy to operate, there is no spring tension to overcome, they're inexpensive, and I could easily carve my children's names into the handles.

We started with safe use of knives, and allowed them to turn sticks into wood chips (they called it whittling) while under supervision. We emphasized the importance of a knife as a tool, and that tools need to be used safely. There were consequences for misuse and safety violations. The result of this expose was that my children were far better skilled, and far safer with knives than their peers who were introduced to them as Bear Cubs in third grade.

 

[Captain Airyca]

My mum let me have sharp stuff real early in my life, but a lot of my friends didn't really get exposure until 4th grade or so when my mum was a girl scout troop leader. She introduced us to all sorts of awesome stuff like knives and fire. (No guns though, sadly.) There is something about a bunch of cute girls learning together how to do useful things like whittling and starting fires safely that put thier parents at ease. I am on my phone so I can't type as much as I'd like, but I think that sometimes learning about "scary" stuff like that or whatever as a group makes people feel less weird? Also, learning safety and getting a cute badge and stuff made 1. The girls interested and proud, and 2. The parents feel at ease. I think the parents realized that learning knife skills wasn't a weird thing, but a practical thing, I dunno if this helps but I do wish you luck and if you can't teach knife safety in the woods, you still can in the kitchen. If your kids are wanting to and are able to learn the skills, let them help with tools mom is comfortable with and then slowly level up. Move on to garage tools like hammers and power tools. Then eventually you and the kids will be out chopping forests down with bk9s. But what do I know, I don't have kids yet!

 

[JTmisterknifeguy]

You guys are swinging for the fences here with these posts!!
Very encouraging!!
A few of you mentioned specific blades you'd give/have given your youngsters, bk11s, 14s, moras, opinels.

I think this is great, and as a 6-7 year old, I would have done anything to have serious steel like that.
I started out with a stubby screwdriver as a wee preschooler (which, I think, could be a lot more dangerous than the cheesy no-name keychain knife that I got next). I can picture an older version of my "hobbit lass" with a "girly colored" mora or BK&T... Makes me smile!
I think I'd have even less resistance from "Mama bear" if the blade I get my girl doesn't "look scary" (read- tactical).

When she's older (middle school/high school), and if she's still interested, she'll get a big'en from dad. A bk2 or more likely a 16, it doesn't look like a navy seal knife, but is at least as capable as anything used by the frogmen, (except for sticking bad guys). I'm going to corrupt her as soon as I can!!

A few of y'all mentioned .22 caliber rifles. Is there any specific modles that are "must haves"? We can't afford anything even remotely like that right now, with residency and it's waitress-like pay, I got time to do the recon here/now because my girl is still learning how to "potty wike a pwincess", but I've heard (from that darned Nutnfancy again) that the "cricket single shot .22" is a good intro to (maybe after a red rider BB gun) to actual firearm use and safety.

What would you guys say to that? I know there's no "right answer", just fishing for opinions.
-JT

 

[Noswad0208]

I'm 15 and I grew/am growing up on a farm, so knives and guns have always been a part of life from when I was born. IIRC I was allowed to put a knife in my pocket and carry it (with supervision, though not especially strict) at about 3 years old, and actually got the first knife I could call mine at about 6 for Christmas, and only recently (last September I think) started regularly carrying one, but I would have been allowed to buy and carry one before, I just didn't for some reason.

I have cut myself before and I did when I was younger, I was never punished for it. Usually I got peroxide, a baindaid, and a short "be careful next time" speech.

I've been allowed to shoot guns most of my life too. I won a Red Rider lever action BB gun when I was about three and I was allowed to take it out into the field and shoot cans and stuff without much supervision, but I was told not to shoot any animals or there would be trouble. Then, still at about 3, I was allowed to shoot a .22. I started to work my way up to a .223/20 gauge combo gun (the barrels switched out), then I was allowed to use dad's SKS, MAK-90, etc. Then I got a small .22 revolver a few years back. Then Dad started building his own AR-15's and he built me one in 7.62x39mm. Just this Summer he took all the tacticlol stuff he had put on his old 12 gauge shotgun and told me it was mine if I wanted it, otherwise it would be sold, and now we still own the shotgun. (Obviously the ones I call "mine" I don't legally own yet, but as soon as I'm old enough they'll probably be transferred to my name)

Though I assume that growing up on a farm and having lots of varmints to shoot and lots of stuff needing cut helped things along a bit better than if I had been raised in a town or city someplace.

 

[TBL]

A few of y'all mentioned .22 caliber rifles. Is there any specific modles that are "must haves"? We can't afford anything even remotely like that right now, with residency and it's waitress-like pay, I got time to do the recon here/now because my girl is still learning how to "potty wike a pwincess", but I've heard (from that darned Nutnfancy again) that the "cricket single shot .22" is a good intro to (maybe after a red rider BB gun) to actual firearm use and safety.

What would you guys say to that? I know there's no "right answer", just fishing for opinions.
-JT

The blue .22 in the picture with my son is a 'Savage Rascal'

See video below:
[video=youtube;pZH5UfJoG24]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZH5UfJoG24[/video]

It's awesome and can be found new in box between $140-$170

 

[MacTech]

As far as the .22 rifle goes, I highly recommend the CZ-452 Scout, it's a standard 452 action with a 16" barrel with basic iron sights, in a youth sized stock, it comes with a Single Shot Adapter magazine, but it can also use the standard 452 mags, 5 and 10 shot.

It may be a tad more expensive than other youth rifles to start, but it can grow with her, when she outgrows the youth stock, you can either slip on a Limbsaver slip on recoil pad (cheapest option) to increase length of pull to adult size, or replace the stock with an adult size stock.

It's such a nice, handy sized rifle, you might end up purchasing one for yourself as well

 

[gonebad395]

Someone makes a 22 called the chipmunk it's a little gun for little kids a great starter.

 

[Bladite]

"that's why we have tetanus shots and stitches"

 

[pickin_grinnin]

I tend to think of age 6 as being a good overall age to give a child his/her first knife, but that can vary upwards or downwards depending on the child. My oldest grandson is 4 1/2, and I will probably let him start handling some of my knives (and teaching him knife safety) sometime next year.

Even though we were raised in the suburbs, we were Texan kids with relatives in the country, so I learned to shoot guns around age 9 or 10 (I think it was younger for my brothers). I seem to recall having knives many years before that, though - maybe around 6 or so. I was handling sharp kitchen knives before that, though. My parents both drilled gun and knife safety into us from a pretty early age.

I'm not a fan of over-protecting children. Everybody who owns and uses a knife will get cut at some point, and that's an important part of the learning process. Unless they are doing something that's really unsafe, most knife injuries kids are likely to experience will be non-serious cuts to the hands. That's nothing to worry about. I still have scars on my hands from various accidental cuts (from non-knife things) that I picked up during childhood.

 

[JTmisterknifeguy]

Well, here is my little two-year-old getting some of her first "sharp time" helping me prep dinner in the kitchen.

And yes, she made every one of those cuts (with help).



Partially frozen chicken with the 9, we had to sing "Let it go" as we cut, because I said the word "Frozen"



Here's the finished prep work. probably more fun than I've ever had with a knife.