Teaching a 7 year old how to use slipjoints

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neeman

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Apr 5, 2007
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I need to teach a 7 year old how to use knives.
I have given him one lesson where we talked about safety and how to open and close knives.
We whittled a little on a small twig.
We used a slipjoint and an Opinel.

What to do and not to do?
What size of knife to use?
What projects could I get him to do, given the motor skills of a 7 year old and the lack of any real strength in his hands?


How were you taught to use knives?
Please, any ideas and recollections of being taught slipjoints and sheath knives.

Thanks
 
There are many excellent reference books on the topic but I think it would be a wise instructor who would get a copy of Whittling And Woodcarving by E.J. Tangerman.

This book is an old classic and has everything in it (for the instructor) from knife selection, safety and care to a treatise on wood, carving and whittling projects (from simple to complex). It is a wonderful resource and I can't recommend it highly enough...

...and if you can find (by the same author) a reprint of "Things To Do With A Pocket Knife", it's a great little brochure that was put out by Remington back in the day and geared toward children.
 
I have been teaching my 7 yr old daughter how to use a knife. It is going slowly, we started out with opening and closing and she got a demonstration of what happens when you don't handle the knife correctly (I only bled a little :D). I got a couple of sections of a 2X2 (pretty soft) and we tried our hands at carving them round. It has been fun to watch her figure out what the differnt blades will do (Queen Whittler). She very mature for her age (can't say the same for her 4 yr old brother), but I still keep her under careful watch. Next Summer she will get to carry the whittler when we go camping. Steven
 
I think a big part of the learning experience will be getting cut for the first time. I can remember getting cut the first time with the Barlow my Dad gave me when I was six or seven. I'm sure he gave me detailed instructions of what to do, and what not to do, but all I remember now is getting cut. A little light bulb went on above my head, and it occurred to me that I'd better pay attention to what I was doing!
 
I know I must have sharpened a thousand sticks when I first started carrying a pocket knife.

You guys could make a fruit salad. You cut sections off the larger fruits and have him cube them up. Carefully cutting up a mess of strawberries is a good way to learn a little patience with a knife (not to mention quickly earning a nice patina on a carbon steel blade).

He should be able to cut his own food at dinner, yes?

Maybe have him cut some small rope/twine, both flat on a surface, and looped in one hand and push cutting away from his body with the other. The latter being a good way to help him feel how a dull knife is potentially much more dangerous than a nice sharp one.

Don't forget that he should also learn how to get a decent edge on his knife. No sense in dulling a blade you can't sharpen :D.
 
What I want to know is how sharp is the knife supposed to be? The conventional wisdom is that a sharp knife is a safe knife. There are different levels of sharp though. What I considered a sharp edge ten years ago I would probably describe as being decent today.

I have been cut more than a few times in my life, and I'm thankful that I never inflicted any real damage on myself. But now that I have the knowledge and skill to sharpen a blade, I see how easily a knife can cause serious injury. A flat ground slipjoint with a polished edge and a stout backspring can cut to the bone or maybe even lop off a little one's finger should it close unintentionally. Is the solution to give the youngster a less sharp knife? However, does a duller knife instill less respect for the blade and encourage poor handling habits? I wish I knew the answer.

- Christian
 
My thinking is have the blade be as sharp as yours is. I would hate for them to get used to a dull blade, which doesn't cut their fingers when they touch it, and then pick up a razor sharp knife thinking they could be just as care free. Getting a few small "boo-boos" with a sharp blade will teach them to pay attention. So far it's been working with my three boys, and they have all of their digits.
 
I think that the first thing you must consider is the degree of hand-eye maturity your child has. At 7, a kid won't be ready to carry out very difficult tasks, or chores that require a certain strength and coordination with your fingers. Thus, I'd start with simple and basic things such as cutting string, cutting through tape on a box... At 4 my daughter was helping me dress doves and small fish.

In other words, start with conceptual (theory) safety basics, and then move on to simple tasks. As the child garners dexterity handling a knife and handles it safely, more involved tasks such as carving and so on will come easy. Hell, I still can't carve worth a damn.
 
I have been giving my 11 year old grand daughter knives for the past year (much to my daughters dismay))). I made her a small hunter and a fixed blade whittler first. The small hunter was a bit big for control the whittler seemed hard for her to keep fingers out of the way. I tried a tiny slip joint, too small, then gave her a new RR whittler about 3 1/4 inches long with a coping blade, pen and spear, it fits her hand well opens fairly easily and is sharp as a razor. I also made her up some basswood sticks to whittle down to nothing which seemed to help her out with eye hand coordination. The very sharp blade also gave her control in the depths of cuts and the ease of cutting. Now if my daughter would just stop hiding her fast growing collection. ;-))

Regards

Robin
 
I still remember when my dad gave me my first on about 50 years ago.

He had a couple of bars of Ivory soap and some newspaper with him when he gave me the knife. We sat on the edge of the bed and he showed me how to whittle on a bar of soap. He progressed to balsa wood and sticks. The thought brings back some great memories and a smile.

I would stick with the basics (always cutting away from body/hands, keeping fingers out of the way etc.)
Stop him/her when they forget the basics, correct them and let them continue. Once those basics are mastered with soft material, you will know and can guide them into more difficult tasks. I would start slow and easy.
 
The suggestion of keeping the child's blade as sharp as the one you carry is spot on.

My son was around 7 when he got his first pocket knife. I sharpened it up nice and keen and he knows that they are all kept that way. If there is a knife in the house, we try to keep it as sharp as possible.

That way, he treats them ALL with the same respect.

He is 11 now (acutally, today he is 11) and has only cut himself once. He is very careful and has several slipjoints in his collection.
 
My knives are always sharp! Maybe not as sharp as some people in other sections of the forum seem to go, but they will shave hair. I want my kids to understand that if you have a knife, you keep it sharp, or it is not worth that much as a tool. Steven
 
I have used/played with knives as long as I can remember. My grandfather was a knife/gun lover and I have always been infected with this love for, well weapons in general. I know I have cut myself many times. I think a firm grounded knowledge of safety and teaching him NEVER to cut toward himself or others, but chances are that he will at sometime or another. Also teach by example, if you practice smart knife safety around him, he will pick it up.

Bottom line teach safety and first aid!! haha
 
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