My Toddler Plays with Knives

You read correctly. I let my 2-year-old son handle knives. Here’s why (I’m not crazy).

As mothers, the desire to protect our children is a natural instinct. We wash our hands incessantly to keep our babies safe from germs. We babyproof the house to keep them safe from electrical outlets, sharp corners, and easily toppled furniture. We watch with a keen eye to keep them safe from a big fall as they climb to the top of jungle gym. But at what cost?

I’ve observed that the constant focus on preventative measures and safety should dos can result in missed opportunity, exploration, and discovery. I know this characterization sounds heavy and over-the-top, but I truly believe that we spend a lot of time worrying about the what ifs and saying no instead of adopting the always agree and say yes philosophy to help our babies and toddlers fulfill an interest that requires a tool or skill that moms would likely first consider off-limits or beyond their years. At least this way of thinking and doing seems to be the common plight of first-time moms who are still learning to trust their instincts.

My son exhibits an undying love for all things that go vroom, so much so that he asks to drive our car on a daily basis. But I would never hand him the keys or let him sit on my lap and steer the car while keeping my foot perched over the pedals. As I’m sure you guessed, this is not the situation I’m talking about (Dale Earnhardt Jr. can wait). Instead, I’m advocating that we build on our desire to eschew the ways of the helicopter parent on the playground and work on letting go at home too, at least enough to make the little ones feel safe and empowered. (Motherhood: it’s always a balancing act.)

How do you do this? You let your children play with knives, scissors, and hot glue guns. (We like the Curious Chef Knife Set for toddlers to start). 

Is it possible they could get hurt? Of course, anything is possible. But with proper limit setting and adult supervision, an injury won’t be any worse than the stereotypical, right-of-passage knee scrape or head bump that all little kids get now and again. 

Why does it work? When working with my son, I’ve found that even at 2 years old—an age often not given credit for listening, staying still, and paying attention to detail—he rises to the occasion and exceeds expectations, especially when it’s an activity he has an inherent interest in.

From the time he could crawl, my son made sure we knew about his passion for cooking. The only books he’d pull from the shelf were cookbooks filled with vibrant pictures of savory and sweet treats. And he’d do this over and over and over again until he was old enough to participate in kitchen activities (including climbing in the cabinets). To introduce him to cooking and make it a success, we first set ground rules about kitchen safety. We showed him the dangers of a hot stove and oven, knives, and other utensils, as well as how we behave in this environment.

Because he became my sous chef at the ripe old age of one, we obviously educated him about cooking operations using phrases he could understand (Stove hot. Burn Hand. Ouch, ouch.) and have since elaborated upon them as he’s grown older (The knife is sharp and can cut you. Only use it on the cutting board, blade down, on fruits and veggies). Also, we repeat our kitchen rules before each culinary session as a friendly reminder. He now is very aware if he doesn’t follow these basic family rules, such as keeping the oven door closed, we take a break from an activity and try again later (there are no upsets, we simply walk away for awhile until his interest in the food project is renewed). Inspired by various posts from Janet Lansbury and Teacher Tom, I set up this system so he feels secure, confident, and free to experiment with cooking and other skills all because he has reasonable limits to guide and preserve his safety.

What are the benefits? Trust. Respect. Responsibility. Focus. Improved listening skills. Discipline. Self-Regulation. Self-Discovery. Self-Confidence. Fine motor skills. Fun. Fun. Fun. Imagination. Endless possibilities.

~ The Other Sarah

Comments

[karring]

Great post. I applaud you for letting your kid use knives at that age. It all depends upon one knowing his/her child and teaching them well, and you appear to have done both. I am a knife enthusiast who probably spends too much time and money on knives, but I hope to be in your position when my 12-month-old gets closer to two. I gave my first daughter a knife at 5-years.