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AIBU?

Inappropriate party bag gift?

193 replies

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 00:58

Friend's DS went to an outdoor-activities birthday party (lots of running around grounds of large house; marshmallows over an open fire type thing). Sounds great fun, tbh.

Friend's DS was given a party bag at the end and in the back seat of the car on the way back he opened it and started playing with the contents... which included a penknife - cue him opening it and accidentally cutting himself. Not deeply enough for stitches or anything, but deep enough to end up with blood everywhere.

Now, one thing I didn't find out was whether the parents had been warned that there was a knife in the party bag. I'm assuming not because my friend is pretty paranoid about potential safety issues and I imagine would not have let him have the bag in the car if she knew it contained a penknife.

If they weren't warned, it seems a foolishly dangerous thing to put in party bag for 7 year olds.

What about if they were warned, though? AIBU to think that even with a warning, a penknife is an inappropriate gift to put in a party bag at that age? Or am I being precious?

OP posts:

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ScarlettFreestone · 09/05/2017 01:56

Sign I agree that experience/education makes a big difference with this. There was a thread recently where a poster didn't think her eleven year old was old enough to use a sharp kitchen knife so family practice on this differs wildly.

I wouldn't put one in a party bag. I'd put a compass or a whistle in if we were doing an outdoorsy type party.

LellyMcKelly · 09/05/2017 01:54

If you're going to give a knife as a birthday gift at least tell the parents ffs.

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 01:50

Thanks Topseyt!

OP posts:

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 01:49

I would have expected my own DC at 7yo to have been sensible enough not to open a pen knife without permission. They have been taught knife safety though.

Absolutely, and your DC sound like they have had lots of experience of this kind of knife through camping.

It's made me think about my own Slightly older) DC who can use sharp knives in the kitchen and saw wood, but wouldn't know their way around a penknife as we just don't tend to use one. It was the stiffness of the blade as you flick it out that caught me out when I was a child.

OP posts:

Topseyt · 09/05/2017 01:39

And yet again, WHY can people not read the very opening post of the thread, where OP made it very clear that she was talking about a friend's child, not her own?

Also, the remark about 7 year old babies came from a different poster. Please read!!

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 01:39

I'd like to reiterate that it wasn't my DC and I don't know for sure whether there was a warning or not. There might have been.

The AIBU was purely about the second scenario - would you put it in a party bag WITH a warning?

Genuinely interested - not looking to defend my doubts to the death or anything!

OP posts:

Topseyt · 09/05/2017 01:32

That's the first time I have ever seen 7 year olds referred to as 7 year old babies!!! What bollocks.

That aside though, a pen knife is a totally inappropriate party bag present, and if I were your friend I would be letting the other parents know that in no uncertain terms.

ScarlettFreestone · 09/05/2017 01:32

7yo are not babies!

My 9 yo DD and DS both have their own knives (we do a lot of camping) but they only use them under our supervision.

I don't think that 7 yo is necessarily too young for a knife but I wouldn't give one as a gift because I think it depends on the child.

The parents should of course have been warned.

I would have expected my own DC at 7yo to have been sensible enough not to open a pen knife without permission. They have been taught knife safety though.

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 01:31

I had a penknife by 9 and used it for whittling sticks, but it was given to me by my parents, who knew my limits.

Still managed to cut myself on it the first time I opened it though

OP posts:

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 01:29

Maybe if you did not treat your DC as one he would have known how to handle a small knife without slashing himself

Not my DC. Penknife was a flick-open style thing, so quite stiff.

OP posts:

user1491572121 · 09/05/2017 01:28

A pen knife is more suited to an 11 year old. It was a bit presumptious of them. I'd mention it. My children aren't allowed knives because they're not that good with their fingers....some kids are though...one of DD's mates is 8 and he can carve wood, he's very dextrous....others are not.

Short sighted at 7 if you ask me. 12...a good idea.

cantbefaffedd · 09/05/2017 01:27

*their

cantbefaffedd · 09/05/2017 01:25

I agree OP. 7 year olds ARE still babies, hence they have no road sense, are unable to survive (for a very short time) without adult intervention. Some suggest thrusting knife skills upon little one's. Parents can of course do what they wish with there own, they should not have done this to your DS without discussion.

IloveBanff · 09/05/2017 01:24

I can't get my head around giving knives to children as party gifts. That's bizarre.

FeckinCrutches · 09/05/2017 01:15

7 year old babies?? get over yourself.
OP it's a bit of a crap present if you weren't warned!

PovertyPain · 09/05/2017 01:14

Holy fuck! It's one thing teaching your child to be safe with knives and another to put one in a party bag! 😮

springflowers11 · 09/05/2017 01:11

Seven year olds are not babies.
Maybe if you did not treat your DC as one he would have known how to handle a small knife without slashing himself

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 09/05/2017 01:02

YANBP at all. WTF would give a pen knives to 7 year old babies.

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