I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
skills?

Thanks

RT

Guessing 13?

"RT" > wrote in message
...
>I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
>using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
>skills?
>
> Thanks
>
> RT

RT wrote:
> Guessing 13?

Please, don't top-post.

Age isn't the issue. Hand-eye coordination, fine muscle control, and the
ability to focus on the task at hand are the markers to look for. These can
occur within the elementary school years, or later. For one of my boys, it
was 9. For another it was 14.

When the time comes, pick a knife that is the appropriate size to match the
child. Knives that I use were much, much too much for the 9 year old. The
idea is to give a tool that is suitable to developing and building
confidence in the child.

As you teach, you will start with pre-cut sections of vegetable, sized
appropriately so that it is easily handled by the child. Remember, it is not
speed that you are after, it is a natural coordinated rythym of each step of
the skill done in a natural fluid motion. Speed will come only after every
step comes together smoothly and is second nature to the learner.

--
"So long, so long, and thanks for all the fish!"
Dave
www.davebbq.com

Dave Bugg wrote:
> RT wrote:
>> Guessing 13?
>
> Please, don't top-post.
>
> Age isn't the issue. Hand-eye coordination, fine muscle control, and
> the ability to focus on the task at hand are the markers to look for.
> These can occur within the elementary school years, or later. For one
> of my boys, it was 9. For another it was 14.
>
> When the time comes, pick a knife that is the appropriate size to
> match the child. Knives that I use were much, much too much for the
> 9 year old. The idea is to give a tool that is suitable to developing
> and building confidence in the child.
>
Pretty much the same, IMHO with teaching them a stove is hot, an oven is
hot. But they can't always reach the knife... so yeah, I'd say 13-14 for
chopping up vegetables (always SUPERVISED). Even then, teach them they will
sometimes cut themselves.

Jill

"jmcquown" > wrote in message

> Dave Bugg wrote:
> > RT wrote:
> > > Guessing 13?
> >
> > Please, don't top-post.
> >
> > Age isn't the issue. Hand-eye coordination, fine muscle control, and
> > the ability to focus on the task at hand are the markers to look
> > for. These can occur within the elementary school years, or later.
> > For one of my boys, it was 9. For another it was 14.
> >
> > When the time comes, pick a knife that is the appropriate size to
> > match the child. Knives that I use were much, much too much for the
> > 9 year old. The idea is to give a tool that is suitable to
> > developing and building confidence in the child.
> >
> Pretty much the same, IMHO with teaching them a stove is hot, an oven
> is hot. But they can't always reach the knife... so yeah, I'd say
> 13-14 for chopping up vegetables (always SUPERVISED). Even then,
> teach them they will sometimes cut themselves.
>
> Jill

And you are the expert on when kids can be taught *anything*?

BOB
was prepping food (with a knife) at the age of 5, helping my Mom

BOB wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>
>> Dave Bugg wrote:
>>> RT wrote:
>>>> Guessing 13?
>>>
>>> Please, don't top-post.
>>>
>>> Age isn't the issue. Hand-eye coordination, fine muscle control, and
>>> the ability to focus on the task at hand are the markers to look
>>> for. These can occur within the elementary school years, or later.
>>> For one of my boys, it was 9. For another it was 14.
>>>
>>> When the time comes, pick a knife that is the appropriate size to
>>> match the child. Knives that I use were much, much too much for the
>>> 9 year old. The idea is to give a tool that is suitable to
>>> developing and building confidence in the child.
>>>
>> Pretty much the same, IMHO with teaching them a stove is hot, an oven
>> is hot. But they can't always reach the knife... so yeah, I'd say
>> 13-14 for chopping up vegetables (always SUPERVISED). Even then,
>> teach them they will sometimes cut themselves.
>>
>> Jill
>
> And you are the expert on when kids can be taught *anything*?
>
> BOB
> was prepping food (with a knife) at the age of 5, helping my Mom

Oh F-U Bob! Did I say I was an expert?! I didn't say that at all. But I
wasn't allowed to handle the sharp chefs knives until I was a teen. My mom
wouldn't even let me around the kitchen until I was 7 or 8 except to wash
dishes. And when I was 9 we got a (woo hoo!) portable dishwasher and I was
allowed to load and unload it. The kitchen was not the domain of children
weilding knives. And I was replying to Dave Bugg, so shut yer pie-hole.

Jill

" BOB" > wrote:
>> >
>> Pretty much the same, IMHO with teaching them a stove is hot, an oven
>> is hot. But they can't always reach the knife... so yeah, I'd say
>> 13-14 for chopping up vegetables (always SUPERVISED). Even then,
>> teach them they will sometimes cut themselves.
>>
>> Jill
>
> And you are the expert on when kids can be taught *anything*?
>

This is just one of the things I cannot stand about Jill. The ease
with which she expounds upon things which she knows nothing
at all about--in an authoritative tone, no less.

On Apr 8, 12:39?pm, Steve Wertz > wrote:
> On Sun, 8 Apr 2007 08:03:00 -0400, BOB wrote:
> > BOB
> > was prepping food (with a knife) at the age of 5, helping my Mom
>
> I was making complete dinners when I was 10-11.

I don't think Snap, Crackle, Pop for brekkie, P n' J for lunch, and
Swanson TV Dinners count. hehe

Sheldon

Steve Wertz wrote:
> On Sun, 8 Apr 2007 08:03:00 -0400, BOB wrote:
>
> > BOB
> > was prepping food (with a knife) at the age of 5, helping my Mom
>
> I was making complete dinners when I was 10-11.
>
> -sw

Me too. Spaghetti, home made pizza, lasagne, chicken chow mein,
burgers, lots of salads. I was the only one home until l about 6 or 7
PM, from age 11 on, so I always started dinner.

-L.

On Sun, 8 Apr 2007 02:12:04 -0500, "jmcquown" >
wrote:

>Dave Bugg wrote:
>> RT wrote:
>>> Guessing 13?
>>
>> Please, don't top-post.
>>
>> Age isn't the issue. Hand-eye coordination, fine muscle control, and
>> the ability to focus on the task at hand are the markers to look for.
>> These can occur within the elementary school years, or later. For one
>> of my boys, it was 9. For another it was 14.
>>
>> When the time comes, pick a knife that is the appropriate size to
>> match the child. Knives that I use were much, much too much for the
>> 9 year old. The idea is to give a tool that is suitable to developing
>> and building confidence in the child.
>>
>Pretty much the same, IMHO with teaching them a stove is hot, an oven is
>hot. But they can't always reach the knife... so yeah, I'd say 13-14 for
>chopping up vegetables (always SUPERVISED). Even then, teach them they will
>sometimes cut themselves.
>
>Jill
>

Wonder why the mothers did not want their children to be in the
kitchen? It occurs to me than many of them did not want to relinquish
control of the one place in the house that was their domain. Within
reason, because she still had to make sure that she made things that
Daddy liked.

I was in the kitchen as early as I can remember. I cannot say that I
was cooking that early, but by the 5th grade I was helping with
supper. My mother was divorced and worked full time. I remember
making waffles when I was probably in the 4th grade. Also made a
fruit salad to go with them. And no, mother was not at home.

Any thoughts?
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

On Apr 8, 3:09 pm, The Cook > wrote:
> On Sun, 8 Apr 2007 02:12:04 -0500, "jmcquown" >
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >Dave Bugg wrote:
> >> RT wrote:
> >>> Guessing 13?
>
> >> Please, don't top-post.
>
> >> Age isn't the issue. Hand-eye coordination, fine muscle control, and
> >> the ability to focus on the task at hand are the markers to look for.
> >> These can occur within the elementary school years, or later. For one
> >> of my boys, it was 9. For another it was 14.
>
> >> When the time comes, pick a knife that is the appropriate size to
> >> match the child. Knives that I use were much, much too much for the
> >> 9 year old. The idea is to give a tool that is suitable to developing
> >> and building confidence in the child.
>
> >Pretty much the same, IMHO with teaching them a stove is hot, an oven is
> >hot. But they can't always reach the knife... so yeah, I'd say 13-14 for
> >chopping up vegetables (always SUPERVISED). Even then, teach them they will
> >sometimes cut themselves.
>
> >Jill
>
> Wonder why the mothers did not want their children to be in the
> kitchen? It occurs to me than many of them did not want to relinquish
> control of the one place in the house that was their domain. Within
> reason, because she still had to make sure that she made things that
> Daddy liked.
>
> I was in the kitchen as early as I can remember. I cannot say that I
> was cooking that early, but by the 5th grade I was helping with
> supper. My mother was divorced and worked full time. I remember
> making waffles when I was probably in the 4th grade. Also made a
> fruit salad to go with them. And no, mother was not at home.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
Possibly control issues. With my Mom, she taught us to make
oatmeal cookies, scrambled eggs, and hamburgers. The rest we
learned on our own after leaving home. Lack of patience,
unwillingness to let kids grow up, kids with low impulse control
that you fear will kill themselves. All sorts of reasons.

I admit to coddling my daughter until we went camping one time,
and met some kids from a group home. the 10-year-olds were
doing their own laundry, and it was an AHA moment for me.
I'd always considered my daughter too young to do any of that
stuff. It was actually my fear of having more to clean up than
her ability to do stuff.

Now she makes her own breakfast crepes, and is learning to
make bread (again).

maxine in ri

The Cook wrote:
>
> Wonder why the mothers did not want their children to be in the
> kitchen? It occurs to me than many of them did not want to relinquish
> control of the one place in the house that was their domain. Within
> reason, because she still had to make sure that she made things that
> Daddy liked.

More likley that they just didn't have the patience to do so. It
takes a butt load of patience to teach a child how to do something,
even if they catch on fairly quickly. When you are rushing to get
dinner on the table, that sort of time and patience is in little
supply.

>
> I was in the kitchen as early as I can remember. I cannot say that I
> was cooking that early, but by the 5th grade I was helping with
> supper. My mother was divorced and worked full time. I remember
> making waffles when I was probably in the 4th grade. Also made a
> fruit salad to go with them. And no, mother was not at home.
>
> Any thoughts?

Same as me. I cooked out of necessity - it was one way I could help
the family. I learned from my Mom and my sister who is 6 years older
than I.

-L.

On Apr 7, 10:02 pm, "RT" > wrote:
> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
> skills?
>
> Thanks
>
> RT

5-7, with close supervision. The 9 year old is old enough. Girl
Scouts at that age are taught proper handling of jackknives, axes,
and saws.

Start by going over knife safety: never point or throw a knife at
someone, keep all fingers away from the blade, what to do with the
knife after you're done. Remind them regularly that knives are not
toys. It takes a while for that to sink in. Make sure they know that
they only cut things when Mom or Dad are there with them.

Just make sure the knives they use fit their hands, and you are aware
of how sober they are about the process. Let them know it's very much
a big kid thing, and any misuse gets the knife taken away
immediately. Have your 3 year old cut marshmallows or toast with a
table blade. The 9-year-old should be able to start working with a
paring knife. See how that goes, and graduate to more complex types
of cutting as each child gains dexterity and control, and masters the
skills with the smaller, lighter blades.

And keep a big box of band-aids handy.

maxine in ri

maxine in ri wrote:
> On Apr 7, 10:02 pm, "RT" > wrote:
>> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see
>> me using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach
>> knife skills?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> RT
>
> 5-7, with close supervision. The 9 year old is old enough. Girl
> Scouts at that age are taught proper handling of jackknives, axes,
> and saws.
>
> Start by going over knife safety: never point or throw a knife at
> someone, keep all fingers away from the blade, what to do with the
> knife after you're done. Remind them regularly that knives are not
> toys. It takes a while for that to sink in. Make sure they know that
> they only cut things when Mom or Dad are there with them.
>
> Just make sure the knives they use fit their hands, and you are aware
> of how sober they are about the process. Let them know it's very much
> a big kid thing, and any misuse gets the knife taken away
> immediately. Have your 3 year old cut marshmallows or toast with a
> table blade. The 9-year-old should be able to start working with a
> paring knife. See how that goes, and graduate to more complex types
> of cutting as each child gains dexterity and control, and masters the
> skills with the smaller, lighter blades.
>
> And keep a big box of band-aids handy.
>
> maxine in ri

I totally forgot that I had to get a Girl Scout Knife (wonder what happened
to it?) similar to a Swiss Army Knife... hmmm, I think it only lacked the
corkscrew. :P

Jill

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:02:06 GMT, "RT" > wrote:

>I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
>using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
>skills?
>
Teach the 9 year old.... 3 is ai bit young - unless you plan to keep a
close eye on him/her.

--
See return address to reply by email

<sf> wrote in message
> On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:02:06 GMT, "RT" > wrote:
>
> > I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both
> > see me using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to
> > teach knife skills?
> >
> Teach the 9 year old.... 3 is ai bit young - unless you plan to keep a
> close eye on him/her.
>
> --
> See return address to reply by email

The 3 year old can learn. Think butter-type knife, cutting bread, toast,
etc.
But yes, keep a close eye on both of them.

BOB

RT wrote:
> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
> skills?
>
> Thanks
>
> RT

You can start teaching them basic knife usage at 3, with butter
knives. I would wait on the sharp knives at least until 6 or so.
-L.

"-L." > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> RT wrote:
>> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
>> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
>> skills?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> RT
>
> You can start teaching them basic knife usage at 3, with butter
> knives. I would wait on the sharp knives at least until 6 or so.
> -L.

My 4-year-old learned to use a small spreader knife to spread cream cheese
on her bagel when she was 2. She really loves helping out in the kitchen,
but I think it will be a long while before she or either of the twins are
using sharp knives. Just me being overly cautious.

I don't remember when I first started using sharp knives, but I know it
wasn't before 12 or so.

Mary

MareCat wrote:
> "-L." > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>>
>> RT wrote:
>>> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both
>>> see me using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to
>>> teach knife skills?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> RT
>>
>> You can start teaching them basic knife usage at 3, with butter
>> knives. I would wait on the sharp knives at least until 6 or so.
>> -L.
>
> My 4-year-old learned to use a small spreader knife to spread cream
> cheese on her bagel when she was 2. She really loves helping out in
> the kitchen, but I think it will be a long while before she or either
> of the twins are using sharp knives. Just me being overly cautious.
>
> I don't remember when I first started using sharp knives, but I know
> it wasn't before 12 or so.
>
> Mary

Thank you. You don't want to put sharp chefs knives in the hands of young
children. There are people (whom I've killfiled multiple times but keep
coming back) who think I'm being too authoritative on this subject. But I
know from experience you don't hand a knife to a baby or anyone age of say,
3-9 and say "cut this up for me". What, are they too lazy to cut their own
vegetables? I don't care if the kid is interested. Interested means
instruction, not hand a child a sharp knife and say "have at it!"

Jill

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> MareCat wrote:
>> "-L." > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>>>
>>> RT wrote:
>>>> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both
>>>> see me using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to
>>>> teach knife skills?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>> RT
>>>
>>> You can start teaching them basic knife usage at 3, with butter
>>> knives. I would wait on the sharp knives at least until 6 or so.
>>> -L.
>>
>> My 4-year-old learned to use a small spreader knife to spread cream
>> cheese on her bagel when she was 2. She really loves helping out in
>> the kitchen, but I think it will be a long while before she or either
>> of the twins are using sharp knives. Just me being overly cautious.
>>
>> I don't remember when I first started using sharp knives, but I know
>> it wasn't before 12 or so.
>>
>> Mary
>
> Thank you. You don't want to put sharp chefs knives in the hands of young
> children. There are people (whom I've killfiled multiple times but keep
> coming back) who think I'm being too authoritative on this subject. But I
> know from experience you don't hand a knife to a baby or anyone age of
> say,
> 3-9 and say "cut this up for me". What, are they too lazy to cut their
> own
> vegetables? I don't care if the kid is interested. Interested means
> instruction, not hand a child a sharp knife and say "have at it!"
>
> Jill
>

How many 3 to 9 year olds have you had?

The best way to learn is hands on. If they don't have a knife in their hand
it's pretty hard to learn. You show them first how to and then you hand
them a knife. But you give them one appropriate for their hand size.


Ms P

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> MareCat wrote:
>> "-L." > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>>>
>>> RT wrote:
>>>> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both
>>>> see me using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to
>>>> teach knife skills?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>> RT
>>>
>>> You can start teaching them basic knife usage at 3, with butter
>>> knives. I would wait on the sharp knives at least until 6 or so.
>>> -L.
>>
>> My 4-year-old learned to use a small spreader knife to spread cream
>> cheese on her bagel when she was 2. She really loves helping out in
>> the kitchen, but I think it will be a long while before she or either
>> of the twins are using sharp knives. Just me being overly cautious.
>>
>> I don't remember when I first started using sharp knives, but I know
>> it wasn't before 12 or so.
>>
>> Mary
>
> Thank you. You don't want to put sharp chefs knives in the hands of young
> children. There are people (whom I've killfiled multiple times but keep
> coming back) who think I'm being too authoritative on this subject. But I
> know from experience you don't hand a knife to a baby or anyone age of
> say,
> 3-9 and say "cut this up for me". What, are they too lazy to cut their
> own
> vegetables? I don't care if the kid is interested. Interested means
> instruction, not hand a child a sharp knife and say "have at it!"

Of course, you'd have them learn first--by watching you for awhile, then by
practicing with a small knife under lots of supervision--not just hand them
a sharp knife and have them start cutting.

I can't say right now when my kids will be old enough to start wielding a
sharp knife in the kitchen, but I'm guessing it will be at least a few years
before my oldest daughter does so. I'll just have to see how it goes. Every
kid is different. It all depends on when a child shows the readiness skills.
(I think the reason I didn't use knives before 12 was that I never got the
opportunity to practice before then.)

Mary

MareCat wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>> MareCat wrote:
>>> "-L." > wrote in message
>>> oups.com...
>>>>
>>>> RT wrote:
>>>>> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both
>>>>> see me using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to
>>>>> teach knife skills?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>
>>>>> RT
>>>>
>>>> You can start teaching them basic knife usage at 3, with butter
>>>> knives. I would wait on the sharp knives at least until 6 or so.
>>>> -L.
>>>
>>> My 4-year-old learned to use a small spreader knife to spread cream
>>> cheese on her bagel when she was 2. She really loves helping out in
>>> the kitchen, but I think it will be a long while before she or
>>> either of the twins are using sharp knives. Just me being overly
>>> cautious.
>>>
>>> I don't remember when I first started using sharp knives, but I know
>>> it wasn't before 12 or so.
>>>
>>> Mary
>>
>> Thank you. You don't want to put sharp chefs knives in the hands of
>> young children. There are people (whom I've killfiled multiple
>> times but keep coming back) who think I'm being too authoritative on
>> this subject. But I know from experience you don't hand a knife to
>> a baby or anyone age of say,
>> 3-9 and say "cut this up for me". What, are they too lazy to cut
>> their own
>> vegetables? I don't care if the kid is interested. Interested means
>> instruction, not hand a child a sharp knife and say "have at it!"
>
> Of course, you'd have them learn first--by watching you for awhile,
> then by practicing with a small knife under lots of supervision--not
> just hand them a sharp knife and have them start cutting.
>
> I can't say right now when my kids will be old enough to start
> wielding a sharp knife in the kitchen, but I'm guessing it will be at
> least a few years before my oldest daughter does so. I'll just have
> to see how it goes. Every kid is different. It all depends on when a
> child shows the readiness skills. (I think the reason I didn't use
> knives before 12 was that I never got the opportunity to practice
> before then.)
>
> Mary

I was making rice on a hot stove in Thailand at age 9 and I knew not to
touch the burners. I wasn't allowed to fool around with knives. I was
never "taught" to use knives, it was just something I started doing when I
was around 14 or 15, slicing hot off the grill and set on a cutting board
marinated flank steak. Sliced very thinly against the grain. YUM!

Next thing I knew I was deboning raw chicken breasts. That was to save
money, because already boned chicken breasts cost more (and still do). Just
sort of happened. I am not sure kids need to be "taught" to use knives.
Certainly not a three year old.

Jill

MareCat wrote:
>
> Of course, you'd have them learn first--by watching you for awhile, then by
> practicing with a small knife under lots of supervision--not just hand them
> a sharp knife and have them start cutting.

I'd give them a sharp knife over a dull one when the time comes, for
sure! A dull knife is so much more dangerous!
>
> I can't say right now when my kids will be old enough to start wielding a
> sharp knife in the kitchen, but I'm guessing it will be at least a few years
> before my oldest daughter does so. I'll just have to see how it goes. Every
> kid is different. It all depends on when a child shows the readiness skills.
> (I think the reason I didn't use knives before 12 was that I never got the
> opportunity to practice before then.)

I suspect J will start around 7 or 8 - he's just a hands-on sort of
guy and is dying to use one now. He also asks me every time we
leave the house if he can drive....he doesn't get the concept of
actually having to have the skill to do so.
-L.

On Apr 7, 10:02 pm, "RT" > wrote:
> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
> skills?
>
> Thanks
>
> RT

Depends on all sorts of things but a mature nine year old is probably
old enough. But I am doing this based on bicycle safety training
ages[1]. A child younger than that may have the physical dexterity
but might not have a long attention span to savely handle a knife.
As an aside I was splitting wood and starting the morning fire at
school by the time I was 10 and nobody seemed worried.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

[1] Our anecdotal findings are that children under this age can ride a
bike but have problems with rules of the road, signalling etc.

"RT" > wrote in message
...
>I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
>using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
>skills?
>
> Thanks
>
> RT

It would depend on the child. I had 4 children and mine learned at different
ages. I had a couple at 10 to 11 that where able to do it safely with the
other 2 learning from them a little younger. I do suggest you check out
these for their first chef's knife:
http://www.korin.com/product.php?pid...um=HMI-685-120

This is just one source of these as there are other manufactures of knives
like these.


--

Joe Cilinceon

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:02:06 GMT, "RT" > wrote:

>I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
>using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
>skills?
>
>Thanks
>
>RT

Now.

The Nine year old is ready, though if they have not used a sharp knife
before start them with something a bit less dangerous.

The three year old - some playdoh and a plastic knife are a great tool
to teach with.

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:02:06 GMT, "RT" > wrote:

>I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
>using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
>skills?
>
>Thanks
>
>RT


A further note to my other post - If they have to use a stool to reach
what they are cutting they are not ready - kids squirm too much.

On Apr 7, 10:02�pm, "RT" > wrote:
> I have a 3 *and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. *Both see me
> using a Chefs knife. *What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
> skills?

Dexterity is primarilly dependant on innate ability. With some folks
fine muscle control will become apparent at a very early age, long
before they can walk or even crawl. Some toddlers have no problen
handling knives that are appropriately sized for their hands, many
three year olds can be quite proficinet with a paring knife. A parent
should be able to determine with a fair degree of accuracy the level
of proficiency by which their child can handle tools by the time a
child is five. If you need to ask then your nine year old will never
be proficient with a knife, by five years old any child truely
interested in kitchen work and is so innately gifted will have already
demonstrated a proficient level of dexterity with all kitchen tools
including cutlery. But most people will never be very proficient
with using hand tools... some are very good but most TV celebrity
chefs can barely handle a knife... Julia was one of the klutziest.

Sheldon

--

Joe Cilinceon


"Sheldon" > wrote in message
oups.com...

Dexterity is primarilly dependant on innate ability. With some folks
fine muscle control will become apparent at a very early age, long
before they can walk or even crawl. Some toddlers have no problen
handling knives that are appropriately sized for their hands, many
three year olds can be quite proficinet with a paring knife. A parent
should be able to determine with a fair degree of accuracy the level
of proficiency by which their child can handle tools by the time a
child is five. If you need to ask then your nine year old will never
be proficient with a knife, by five years old any child truely
interested in kitchen work and is so innately gifted will have already
demonstrated a proficient level of dexterity with all kitchen tools
including cutlery. But most people will never be very proficient
with using hand tools... some are very good but most TV celebrity
chefs can barely handle a knife... Julia was one of the klutziest.

Sheldon


As a father of 4 kids (1 girl) and grand father of 17, I hate to say it but
once I agree with Sheldon on this one. Each child is different, period.
Putting an age on it is relative at all, age has nothing to do with it.

In article >,
"Joe Cilinceon" > wrote:

> --
>
> Joe Cilinceon
>
>
> "Sheldon" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
> Dexterity is primarilly dependant on innate ability. With some folks
> fine muscle control will become apparent at a very early age, long
> before they can walk or even crawl. Some toddlers have no problen
> handling knives that are appropriately sized for their hands, many
> three year olds can be quite proficinet with a paring knife. A parent
> should be able to determine with a fair degree of accuracy the level
> of proficiency by which their child can handle tools by the time a
> child is five. If you need to ask then your nine year old will never
> be proficient with a knife, by five years old any child truely
> interested in kitchen work and is so innately gifted will have already
> demonstrated a proficient level of dexterity with all kitchen tools
> including cutlery. But most people will never be very proficient
> with using hand tools... some are very good but most TV celebrity
> chefs can barely handle a knife... Julia was one of the klutziest.
>
> Sheldon
>
>
> As a father of 4 kids (1 girl) and grand father of 17, I hate to say it but
> once I agree with Sheldon on this one. Each child is different, period.
> Putting an age on it is relative at all, age has nothing to do with it.

I believe I said much the same thing...
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

"Sheldon" > wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 7, 10:02?pm, "RT" > wrote:
> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
> skills?

Dexterity is primarilly dependant on innate ability.

Damn, Sheldon, did you blow out your dentures on that line?

RT wrote:
> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
> skills?
>
> Thanks
>
> RT

Depends on what kind of neighborhood you live in. ;-)

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

"Kate Connally" > wrote in message
...
> RT wrote:
>> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
>> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
>> skills?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> RT
>
> Depends on what kind of neighborhood you live in. ;-)
>
hahahaha!

In article >, "cybercat" >
wrote:

> "Kate Connally" > wrote in message
> ...
> > RT wrote:
> >> I have a 3 and 9 year old that are interested in cooking. Both see me
> >> using a Chefs knife. What would the appropriate age be to teach knife
> >> skills?
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>
> >> RT
> >
> > Depends on what kind of neighborhood you live in. ;-)
> >
> hahahaha!
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson