Children and knives - do they go together?

6. února 2024

Every child sooner or later encounters a sharp knife. Most often it is at home, in the kitchen, but it can also be on a trip in the countryside or perhaps somewhere visiting friends in the garden. The best protection against being seriously injured by a knife is to teach him respect and technique in how to handle a knife.

While Mikov makes a variety of cutlery, we definitely do not recommend starting knife handling lessons with military daggers or large kitchen knives. It is always a good idea to start with smaller knives. From our point of view, such a "starter" knife cannot be anything other than the generations-tested Fishlet, or the pocket knife Stovka, or the sturdy hunting Binder.

Until they have mastered the knife, they must always use it under adult supervision. First, we must teach children how to hold the knife properly so that their fingers are always protected and well away from the blade. Only then is it time to start simple exercises to improve motor skills - for example, cutting paper or cutting a stick. And, of course, we teach children the principle of always cutting away from the body.

Because most knife injuries occur in the kitchen, children need to be slowly introduced to simple tasks such as cutting fruit or vegetables on a cutting board. Mikov offers a full range of kitchen knives. You can choose from the luxury knives or the Classic and Ruby ranges. While experienced adults in the kitchen will love the Santoku knife, for example, it's much more suitable for little beginners to master the craft with something smaller, like a universal chef's knife.

Children also need to be reminded at all times that when they pass the knife to another person, they should do so with the blade facing them. And if there are other people around, we need to make sure we don't hurt them with careless movements. And, of course, no throwing or throwing with knives, unless they are special throwing knives, which Mikov also has in its range.

We also gradually teach the children how to maintain the knives and how to sharpen them. Using Mikov's instructions, they can learn how to sharpen knives with a stone and how to use a whetstone. But patience and kindness are important. This is the only way to instill in children the principles of behaviour that will turn knives into useful helpers in their hands.