Knives for kids?

[hakoMike]

As some of you may remember, my three kids are getting started in this crazy obsession of a hobby. They are currently 8, 6 and 3.

I don\'t expect the three year old to do anything but slap color on a mini and stick brushes in his ear (which he has demonstrated quite a talent for) but I\'d like to start the girls on cleaning and assembling their own models. Does anyone have any recommendations for some sort of knife that I could let my kids use for removing the bits of sprue left over from clipping parts off the sprue? I\'m hesitant to let them use an Xacto yet. They have fairly good hand-eye coordination but not enough strength to comfortable use a knife with a blade like that without slipping off the model.

 

[green stuff]

If you have doubts regarding safety, I\'d advice that they only use pliers and small files. It\'ll take longer but there are no risks that way .

 

[matty1001]

I barely even trust myself with a scalpel/stanley knife, let alone want to let an 8, 6 or 3 year old use one. Far to much risk involved IMO.

I would just get a good pair of clippers which will get as close to the model as possible, and as GS mentioned, files.

I also have a wet and dry sanding sponge which removes anything like this pretty easily with no risk factor. Because it spongey they will be able to get a good grip on it, and the texture isn\'t rough enough to graze skin if there is an accident.

 

[green stuff]

Message original : matty1001
pair of clippers

Thanks Mat, I forgot how those were called; scratch the pliers I mentionned . And that sponge of yours sounds great for Mike\'s kids.

 

[Ritual]

I sliced off the tip of one of my fingers with an x-acto when I was 10 cutting parts off a sprue. I don\'t recommend putting knives in their hands just quite yet! :no:

 

[lizcam]

I feel like a horrible mother. At 8 Alex was using hot glue guns at will, regular scissors, drills, xacto knives, wood carving kits and wood burners all by himself. He had a thing for taking his mechanical toys apart and building new things out of them. If I\'d kept an eye on him for the whole proccess every time we would have starved, so I just let him be and patched up the 1-2 split fingers he got. It\'s amazing how fast kids learn that something is sharp when it bites them.

That being said, the 3 year old is in no way ready. But the 8 year old is and the 6 year old may be.

 

[matty1001]

Just thought, if you do let them use one, teach them to scrape, instead of slicing.
Much less pressure needed so the chances of the thing slipping wouldn\'t be half as much.

 

[Sand Rat]

All good suggestions.

But remember, getting cut is part of life - we learn from it.

Although having sliced the tips off of two fingers (one when I was 2 by sticking my hand somewhere it shouldn\'t have been, and one when I was 16 or so cutting threads from a boot) I may not have learned much.

 

[airhead]

SC, I agree that cuts and scrapes are part of the growing/learning process, but 6 year olds with surgical sharp x-actos is probably asking for a visit to the emergency room.

The 8 year old would depend on the child. I\'ve known kids that young that could be ok, other \'kids\' at 20 that I wouldn\'t give a butter knife to.

 

[Highbulp Billy]

Originally posted by steelcult
...one when I was 2 by sticking my hand somewhere it shouldn\'t have been...

You know we just have to ask now...?

 

[squig hunter]

I recconmend a GW GS tool, they are sharp enough to scrape away mould-lines, but blunt enough that you couldn\'t cut yourself on them by slicing at least.

Squig

 

[DaN]

Another tip I\'d say is to remind them to clear up - especially if they are the kind with different, or spare blades - as stepping or sitting on one that\'s been left around could end being worse!

Also - has anyone mentioned using files to clean up mould lines and sprue ends etc?

 

[Einion]

I think this is the bottom line here Mike:

Originally posted by airhead
The 8 year old would depend on the child. I\'ve known kids that young that could be ok, other \'kids\' at 20 that I wouldn\'t give a butter knife to.

Only under supervision is probably a given, but even so I would worry. Personally I do think we coddle children today a little too much but that said I wouldn\'t knowingly allow them to be in a position where they could be pretty seriously hurt - scraped knees are one thing, bad cuts on the hand are another. In addition to losing or permanently damaging a nail their tendons are not far below the surface.

My nephew is 8 and there is no way in hell he\'s allowed near a kitchen knife much less something as sharp as an X-Acto; and it\'s not just about fine motor skills, it\'s also about impulse control (not meaning to paint a bad picture of my nephew but he is still prone to tantrums).

Einion

 

[Dragonsreach]

Knives for kids, not a bad trade.

Originally posted by Einion
Only under supervision is probably a given, but even so I would worry. Personally I do think we coddle children today a little too much but that said I wouldn\'t knowingly allow them to be in a position where they could be pretty seriously hurt - Einion

My point of view exactly.
However there are a couple of 8-10 years olds, family friends, who I would trust with Sharp implements, more so that one or two \"Adults\".

Having said that I would still prefer to give kids the opporrtunity to learn and be shown care around sharp items. (This from the man who sliced his own thumb open at age 9 with a penknife. Hellofaway to learn about Safety. Six weeks with a bandage cos it went septic.)

 

[PegaZus]

Just to throw in my experience here, my five year old just BEGS to paint as well, so we bought him some skeleton soldiers (he picked them out). Okay, no problem, glue the arms on and we\'ll be done, right? Nooooo.... I open the box and EACH soldier has eight pieces to glue.

So to help speed things along, I let him cut out the bulkier pieces with some side cutters. Showed him which side he needed to use and let him go at it. And he did quite well.

A bunch of the poor guys don\'t have shoulder sockets anymore, but I was still able to glue them! lol I\'m just worried about the two year old. She likes scissors, and can climb for them.

One other hint that I got from the GW store, whose manager did the same thing: Give the kids washable paint. That way, once they\'ve finished painting them, dunk \'em in water and the figures are ready to go again! And of course, wash it off of the kids, too.

 

[squidders]

It is entirely down to, as has been said, the individual youngster.

I have had small groups in the woods teaching them wilderness living skills including basic knife skills and maintenance. Always there are one or two who just get it right first time. Never cutting toward themselves, or in their lap, never twisting the blade or risking a part of it snapping off etc etc etc.

Then there are the happy-go-lucky nutter type who just enjoy playing around and to be fair, they were kids so it\'s expected.

I would say involve your 8 year old and encourage them to use the tools (any tools) safely and allow the 6 year old to watch and maybe let the 8 year old clean the others\' minis up for them too to get some more learning going as a group.

Because of one of my pastimes I\'m very vocal on the proper use of cutting tools and can get preachy, it\'s my problem and I am dealing with it... honest :innocent: