Using Knives in Early Childhood & Preschool

Teaching your child to use a knife can feel scary, but it is an important skill to share from an early age. Working with knives and cutting not only builds fine motor skills, but it also gives children the skills they need to cook and create in the kitchen.

Knife Use Progression for Kids

There is a progression of knives that can be introduced to help a child learn how to use a knife safely. There are numerous opinions on the subject, and a simple Google search will yield a wealth of information. This information is meant to be a suggestion; there is no golden standard for knife introduction and progression. As always, take time to reflect on the needs of your family and child and go from there. 

Here is the progression of knives I use with my own children and those in my Waldorf preschool & kindergarten:

1. Simple butter knife
2. Wavvy chopper knife
3. Round tipped knife with finger guard
4. Paring Knife

1. Simple Butter Knife

Teach basic knife safety and use with a standard kitchen butter knife. Good first projects are cutting playdough or bananas. Teach them how to hold the knife in their hand and how to position it for chopping.

2. Wavvy Chopper

Wavvy choppers are the first sharp knives I introduce after a simple butter knife. These are the choppers the children use in my Children’s Garden program. These are quite sharp, so you must show your child how to use them safely.

I suggest purchasing two of these so you and your child can chop at the same time, and you can model the proper technique. Remember, what you do means a lot more to young children than what you say–watch your own technique and make sure you want it copied!
Here are the Wavvy Choppers I recommend. 

3. Knife with a Rounded Tip

Once your child has mastered the use of the wavvy knife, you can safely introduce a knife with a rounded tip. Opinel makes my favorite knives for kids! I recommend this one, which includes finger protectors.

4. Standard Paring Knife

When your child has mastered knife usage and safety with a knife with a rounded tip, they are ready to move to a standard kitchen paring knife (the smaller of your kitchen knives).

Cooking Story & Songs

Waldorf-inspired Story: Stone Soup

Enjoy the story of Stone Soup, an old Russian folktale about a community that comes together to create a delicious pot of soup. Ms. Becca tells this story in an episode of Storytime in the Woods-- simple Waldorf storytimes from the forest.  Enjoy Stone Soup from Storytime in the Woods here.

Songs for Chopping and Cooking

These songs from Mary Thienes Schunemann will bring joy to chopping and cooking. I have used the first song, Chop, Chop, Chippety Chop, in my Children's Garden program for over fifteen years. It's catchy!