Knife Safety HOW TO BUILD SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE
W
HEN I WAS YOUNG, I was excited by all manner of bladed tools: swords, axes, and the ubiquitous knife. I fantasized about owning the sword at the mall being held by the suit-of-armor-wearing mannequin, but there was nothing practical about owning one. And while intrigued at what an axe could accomplish, I was terrified I’d seriously injure myself since no one had ever taught me how to use it. (Though I learned later in life, I’m still a bit fearful when using one.) But a knife! That was something many of my friends had, and it was a tool my dad had instructed me how to use early on. Most children are fascinated with knives, and we want them to be competent enough as adults that it seems child’s play to use. But, can we teach them safely while they are
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BY REES MAXWELL
still children? I’ll explain why childhood is actually the best time to practice safe knife use, and teach you the five knife safety steps to pass along.
TAKE RISKS, SAFELY Kids have a proclivity toward danger. Some more than others, but the draw toward it is real. Teach them to feed their need for risk-taking in a responsible way, under your supervision.
TRADE A CUT NOW FOR A TRIP TO THE E.R. LATER Kids will get cut using knives, it is going to happen. Would you rather they get a small cut when you are around to bandage their finger (and hurt pride), or banish them from using knives altogether and worry they’ll only wait until you’re absent to try one out?
O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M
AUGUST 2022
