Safe/Correct knife handling tips for kids

E

EseeDownUnder

Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
197
Hey Guys,

This thread is related to another one I posted with regards to those of us who have kids & how to properly store our blades away from young inquisitive minds.
Fact is dads have interests & passions & for some of us it's all things pointy & sharp!

I mentioned in my previous thread that I was even considering keeping my interest in blades on the down low since I have young kids!!!........
But from all your responses it really got me thinking.........the common message that was coming out was when our kids reach the appropriate age, as dads we should take responsibility in warning/teaching them. Where that be "This is dad's stuff, don't touch!!" or "That's dad's drawer or closet, don't touch" or "Only touch if you ask"
It can also be taken as far as teaching them correct/safe knife handling. Some of you have given blades/multi-tools to your kids but keep them locked up & it only comes out under supervision or allowed to carry when going hiking with dad.

These are all excellent ideas!
Perhaps all of you can post some tips on this issue & it doesn't have to be aimed at kids since knife handling is the same for small/big hands!
I'm not saying go out & buy your kid a knife or have them handle your BK9!!!! By all means NO! We all know when our kids are ready for the birds & the bees! That may be different ages for various kids.
Nor am I saying that all dads should 'train' their kids with regards to knives. Mind you all our kids will start using them at some stage in their lives. If you choose to lock up your gear(which all dads should & must do in any case) and not ave your kids know about it then so be it. We're all different liquorice all sorts!

So what you guys think? IS this worthy of a thread?

The aim of this this is create awareness & to foster an attitude of respect/caution & MOST importantly SAFETY!
 
I tell my daughter to never-ever-under any circumstances cut towards ANY part of your body---ESPECIALLY your legs. It is all too common to see someone rest something on thier leg, right next to the femoral artery, when stripping bark or delimbing a marshmellow branch. Makes me cringe everytime if it is a kid.
 
Don't stab your brother.
No running with knives.
Always cut away from yourself.
Keep the knife in its sheath if you're not using it.
Hold the knife by the spine and present the butt if you're handing it to someone .
Don't stab your brother.
 
Cutting away from yourself is the number rule. I violate that rule from time to time, and continue to pay the price.
 
Guyon said:
Don't stab your brother.
No running with knives.
Always cut away from yourself.
Keep the knife in its sheath if you're not using it.
Hold the knife by the spine and present the butt if you're handing it to someone .
Don't stab your brother.
Click to expand...

'bout sums it up, prob. add one thing though

Don't stab your father ... :D
 
I remember many years ago my father teaching me to never hand a knife to someone else blade first alway offer the handle to them. I flashed back to that the other day when in the video of Adam (equipe to endure) and Ethan Becker were talking about the new knives at BLADE and Adam returned a knife back to Ethan Handle first. Good Stuff
 
My brother bought one of those San Mai 11's for his 6 yr old son. Smart kid too, walking encyclopedia of knife safety. Took notes during the trip and everything.
 
I have rattled off all of the aforementioned rules to my kids and will continue to do so, but another facet is that I talk to them about consequences. For example, I talk about how not to cut toward yourself, and then ask them what do you think would happen if you slipped while you were cutting toward yourself? Or if you were to run with the blade pointing toward yourself, what do you think would happen if you stumbled and fell? I try to turn the whole knife ( and gun ) thing into a dialogue between us instead of a "command"-type conversation: "Do this, Don't do that" etc. Don't know if it makes a difference, but it makes me feel better!
 
Kickplate makes a great point; have it be a dialogue. I do that with mine.

I'm copying across the rules I posted in the other thread, plus a new one at the very bottom that came up this weekend.

Knives are tools not toys
You do NOT test a knife's sharpness with your finger.
It goes in the sheath immediately when you're not cutting with it.
The first time I see them played with (waved around like a lightsaber, thrown, etc) then I've got myself a new remora.
Two-strike rule for cutting toward a bodypart (yours, your sister's, a pet's) and then I've got myself a new remora.
I collect the knives when they're done and when they want to use 'em, they come 'check them out of the library.'
No loaning to friends.
Injuries collected during safe use are kind of inevitable and won't be punished. Injuries from screwin' around, though... *boom*
Hand an open folder or fixed blade to someone butt-first.
Make sure your balance and stance are such that you're stable.
If you're mad about something, put the knife away until you cool off.
 
other useful guideline / rules:

o don't use a dull knife, ask for it to be sharpened. eventually they'll learn how.

o clean your knife before putting it away.

o know where the first aid kit is, know how to use it, know how to 911 ;)

o do not EVER throw a knife (barring of course, throwing knives made for said purpose)

o do not stick a knife into something you do not intend to damage, destroy, cut, etc. this includes live trees (infection), park benches, animals, people, etc... ;)
corollary: when opening packages, think about what's inside and if it can be damaged (like say, a tent or other item you don't want cut ;>)
corollary: if it's not yours, don't cut it. applies to many many many things, but seriously, it has to be said for some people ;)

o keep in mind your follow through when swinging. weak hand side to strong hand side strokes are preferred. know how to use a lanyard if needed.

o more for choppers: keep in mind what will happen when you succeed in cutting/chopping the thing you are working on. what are the consequences? (death if you do it wrong)

o do not cut stuff when tired, on drugs/alcohol, or otherwise impaired

o never cut a bagel. never. just back away from the bagel. ESPECIALLY on weekends and super especially on sunday. statistics don't lie on this one.
 
I taught my 4 year old daughter all the above and stressed to her that knives are tools and as such, any tool can hurt you if you do not use them for their intended function or if you use them without paying attention. I have not shown my younger daughter (she'll be 3 in August) simply because even if you think they are listening and learning, c'mon, let's be real, there will be negative consequences.
 
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I personally think it is a good idea to teach your child knife and gun safety as early in life as you can. Of course every child is different and you will know when you feel your child is "mature" enough to understand the basics of when to touch and when not to. But I know more kids that have been hurt by screwdrivers, hammers, nails and screws. All the basic garage or shop type items. Not to mention forks, pencils/pens, toothpicks, sewing needles etc.... I feel that some worry so much about the BIG 2 (guns and knives) that they forget about the everyday items.

Also, repetition, repetition and more repetition. Muscle memory is very important for youngsters.

But it boils down to this. You worry about and teach your kid and I will do so with mine. That's the awesome part of being a parent. You only have to care about your child. The rest will be thinned out via Darwinism. ha ha ha ha

That is my 2 cents. If you don't like it, then gimme a refund. I am not made of money. :)
 
i seem to recall 150 children die per year from accidental gun use. probably a few less from accidental knife use. there are those who would ban guns/knives for all based on this alone.

more children probably die from accidents involving any one of: cars, smoking, cribs, beds, pools, water, toys, food, pets, gravity, and medical mistakes. shall be ban them? right.

the reason a farmer had 9 kids is that he needed the workforce, and statistics say a few will perish, not because he loved his wife long time ;) necessarily.
 
Bladite said:
i seem to recall 150 children die per year from accidental gun use. probably a few less from accidental knife use. there are those who would ban guns/knives for all based on this alone.

more children probably die from accidents involving any one of: cars, smoking, cribs, beds, pools, water, toys, food, pets, gravity, and medical mistakes. shall be ban them? right.

the reason a farmer had 9 kids is that he needed the workforce, and statistics say a few will perish, not because he loved his wife long time ;) necessarily.
Click to expand...

Well that and condoms or birth control were not around then. I would love to have 9 kids. Then have a Battle Royal. 9 kids enter, 1 kid leaves. That is the one I know will make me proud.
 
BushOgre said:
Well that and condoms or birth control were not around then. I would love to have 9 kids. Then have a Battle Royal. 9 kids enter, 1 kid leaves. That is the one I know will make me proud.
Click to expand...

actually, that's not true. the concept and implementation of various birth control is very old concept. used? maybe not so much. personal control? maybe not so much.

childbirth kills too. esp the mothers. life means death. a single insect bite can kill. surprise, you're dead! maybe. not. live! LIVE!

i ate my twin :)
 
Bladite said:
actually, that's not true. the concept and implementation of various birth control is very old concept. used? maybe not so much. personal control? maybe not so much.

childbirth kills too. esp the mothers. life means death. a single insect bite can kill. surprise, you're dead! maybe. not. live! LIVE!

i ate my twin :)
Click to expand...

Meant to say birth control pills. Birth control is just simply (self edited as to not be frowned at)
I always eat people's twin. If they are ugly twins, I find that the surviving twin is thankful not to be reminded constantly that they are ugly.

After talking with the doctors about that stupid thorn that I had, they told me that if I had not had antibiotics and this was in the days of yesteryear, I would have at least lost the finger if not died due to the infection. Go figure. A thorn could have killed me. Intelligent design, my ass. (no offense to any of faith)
 
BushOgre said:
Meant to say birth control pills. Birth control is just simply (self edited as to not be frowned at)
I always eat people's twin. If they are ugly twins, I find that the surviving twin is thankful not to be reminded constantly that they are ugly.

After talking with the doctors about that stupid thorn that I had, they told me that if I had not had antibiotics and this was in the days of yesteryear, I would have at least lost the finger if not died due to the infection. Go figure. A thorn could have killed me. Intelligent design, my ass. (no offense to any of faith)
Click to expand...

vinegar and alcohol soaks, probably would have worked well for the finger. as for birth control :)

the trick is not ending up with a baby that looks more like your neighbor :)
 
Bladite said:
vinegar and alcohol soaks, probably would have worked well for the finger. as for birth control :)

the trick is not ending up with a baby that looks more like your neighbor :)
Click to expand...

My neighbor is kinda hot. I wouldn't mind putting a baby in her and seeing what it looks like.
 
Bladite said:
i seem to recall 150 children die per year from accidental gun use. probably a few less from accidental knife use. there are those who would ban guns/knives for all based on this alone.

more children probably die from accidents involving any one of: cars, smoking, cribs, beds, pools, water, toys, food, pets, gravity, and medical mistakes. shall be ban them? right.

the reason a farmer had 9 kids is that he needed the workforce, and statistics say a few will perish, not because he loved his wife long time ;) necessarily.
Click to expand...

Dude, banning gravity? Bring it!
 
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