Use Tools Safely

1. 1

   Craft projects use many kinds of tools. If your child is curious about a sharper tool such as a craft knife, invite them to try a simple cutting task with you beside them.

2. 2

   First, demonstrate how to hold the handle and guide the blade forward along a straight line.

3. 3

   Next, talk through the rules: hold only the handle, keep fingers away from the blade, and never point the blade toward another person.

4. 4

   When your child is ready, let them try the motion with your guidance. If they use the tool in an unsafe way, pause, reset their grip or position, and then continue.

5. 5

   If your child starts talking while waving the knife, ask them to put it down before continuing the conversation.

6. 6

   The same approach can help with other tools your child may use with you, such as a small hammer or hole punch: demonstrate first, agree on the rules, and support them as they try.

What to notice

• Holds the handle and cuts carefully while following the agreed rules Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• Reaches toward the craft knife and watches or asks to find out how it is used Initiative and Curiosity

Tips

• Before using the craft knife, let your child practice the same hold-and-push motion with a plastic knife or another training tool.

Developmental benefits

• Movement: Watching your demonstration and following the agreed rules gives your child practice using a craft knife with care and respecting basic tool-safety routines.
• Cognitive: Exploring how a craft knife works with your guidance encourages your child to ask questions, observe its purpose, and take part in a new practical task.