Sgian Dubh for Youth

[ThistleDown]

I love knives, all kinds all sizes, but 5 years old is a bit young, IMHO. When it came to my children (both boys and girls) they got their first real knives at about 12. When they could earn the privilege.
Marshal Moroni

Hear hear. Respect for the tool comes before its use. The purpose of he sgian for Scots is not dissimilar to that of the folding Buck for North Americans.

[SgtKmack]

Hear hear. The purpose of he sgian for Scots is not dissimilar to that of the folding Buck for North Americans.

That was more of what I was looking for when asked if it was "proper" for a child. I will mostlikely take the advice of making one, his Grandpa is a good wood carver.

[Chas]

I think 5 is too young. There will of course be exceptions, but as a general rule of thumb - 5 is too young.

Most 5 year olds have enough trouble just living, leave alone adding a sharp knife to the equation. Most 5 year olds struggle to cope with tying their own shoe laces; washing themselves (properly); toileting and cleaning up afterwards; interacting with other children; following rules of a game.

They do not have the physical dexterity to handle a sharp knife. Go and look at children's cutlery - it's different, not just smaller, different.

It is no good saying that they will be taught correct usage. At the age of 5, children have the attention span of a goldfish and are very easily distracted. They have no concept of 'rules' or consequences. If it were true that you could tell a child and they will understand and retain all information given to them, then there would be no need for teachers. They could learn their ABCs at 5 and by 6 they will be reading Shakespeare.

It is in the nature of people to experiment; we are a curious animal; we will push the boundaries and we start at birth. Is there, in essence, any difference between giving a 5 year old a sharp knife and giving them a loaded gun? And then turning your back and walking away and letting them get on with it. After all we have told them not to shoot.

What happens when the child, or his friend, or his sibling gets hurt or worse, gets killed. Do you blame the child - after all you told him the rules!

There is a proper time for all things in life. Some things are regulated by law, driving, drinking alcohol, having sex, joining the military, the list goes on. Other things are left to responsible parents. And that is what it comes down to - is it responsible for a parent or guardian to give a 5 year old a sharp knife. I would submit that it is not.

Far better to give the child a target to work towards - "When you are are 10 years old; If you are responsible enough; I will buy you the sgian of your choice."

In the UK, giving a sharp knife to a 5 year old would not be considered as good parenting.

Regards

Chas

[ChubRock]

Fake or real, just make sure he doesn't wear it to school.

Zero Tolerance Laws and the Sgian Dubh. In our schools this law exists: Any Weapon or Look-alike Weapon, Possession – Possessing any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or any device intended to look like a firearm; any knife; any device or instrument designed as a weapon and capable of producing severe bodily harm, or intended to look like a device or instrument capable of producing severe bodily harm; or any other device, instrument or substance, which, in the manner in which it is used or intended to be used, is calculated or likely to produce severe bodily harm or looks like it is calculated or likely to produce severe bodily harm. Procession of which will be immediate expulsion for one year.

Two years ago, a perfect 4.0 student brought back a sword from Austria while on a school trip. He brought it to German class to show his fellow students and to tell it's meaning. He was expelled for one year. Zero tolerance meant the school board couldn't help him at all, though they knew it wasn't intended to be used to harm anyone. They would appear to be "selective" in their rulings if they had shown leniency. In schools, sometimes selective=racist.

Now in Boy Scouts I was given a Chip and Tote Card and taught to handle a knife at age 10, but that was a long time ago. BTW, I used to bring my shotgun to school in my car to go duck hunting after school back in the day as well.