Would you be impressed or not if your 10yr old received this multi torch for Christmas?

[Pascha]

From a family member? I've been asked to say yay or nay before she buys it.

I'm on the fence about it. I would like to be brave and say yes of course but it does concern me a little.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NZVG3SX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_mGL0FbT263CWF?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Yabu - it's fine don't worry, you have to start trusting him sometime.

Yanbu - of course not, it's not a kids thing.

If they were into scouting or something similar then fine.

Otherwise, no because they'd have no 'legitimate' use for it outside the home, and I'd be worried about them getting into trouble for carrying it.

My 10yo would LOVE that! I would let him have it, but perhaps initially only under supervision, with some safe handling of knives instructions. My kids have used pen knives since they started scouts, but they don't have free access to them.

Mine all had pen knives at 10. That looks like quite a fun thing, and the knife blade looks absolutely tiny.

Nope from me.
I'd not fancy my 11yr old running around with that with his mates.
Potentially dangerous and not suitable for a ten-year old no matter how sensible they are.

Yep, mine had something similar at that age. He wasn't allowed to take it out with him but he loved to use it in the yard or bring camping or beach/forest walks that kind of thing. He spent many happy hours whittling sticks & branches.

Is he in to whittling/scouting/outdoorsy? If yes then I’d say yes (though tbh that doesn’t look brilliant quality if he is in to anything like that). If no I’d say no as I don’t think kids need blades without purpose. Also depends on whether he can be trusted not to take it to school etc!

The blade looks small, but it also looks like it might lock, which would be a problem legally.

My ds had something similar at 10 but could be trusted not to take it out of the house on school residential, sleepovers etc and that school or the police would treat it as him carrying a knife.

Will they use it? My son had similar when he was 11, for Scouts. He was so pleased with it he took it school to show off and spent a day in isolation for taking a weapon to school. Don't let that happen, it never occured to me he'd be stupid enough!

The HT of a very large comp called me herself to apologise that she had no choice, lovely boy, no concerns but you can't bring a weapon to school without consequences...

Nope, too young. And if he has an accident with it (flings it open on his hand, falls onto it, another child falls onto it etc) you'll be kicking yourself for letting him have it.

I'd settle on a decent torch instead.

Absolutely not.

Just a word of warning, couple years ago a child in my DCs class brought one similar to this into school (to show it off!). The police were called because of the knife attached to it means the school classed it as a weapon (police talked to the parents but no action taken against the child). So if you do get it don’t let DC take it into school!

what @HallFloor said.
and also the school will start going on about the rise in knife crime.
A good torch or some bike lights or a bike helmet light wouldn't cause those problems

Think its unnecessary.

As others have said if he's a cub or scout or something where he'd use it then yes - ds got his first Swiss Army knife at 10 - but he was a keen and sensible scouter who camped lots.

Yes, mine had similar from 10 which they use in the garden or when we're camping.

Do the parents do scouting type activities with him? If he has a parent who would be likely to supervise the use of it I'd say yes. If not then I'd say no.

Why not suggest a wind up torch. I think a lot of 10 years olds would be happy to receive one.
Personally I would not buy the one you showed.

I've bought my 10yo a whittling knife with a rounded tip - I think he will get a lot of use out of it. I would say yes to the one you've linked but under v strict instructions and storage etc (ie you hide/keep it when he's not using).

Depends on why he would get one.

DD is a Scout and is allowed to use one during meetings and camps, we also have several pen knives at home she can use if necessary, but I can't see a reason to give her one just for her.

Hmm. Very split opinions here. It's my son and my sister is asking me before she buys it. He is a cub (due to go up to scouts fairly soon though). I think he would like it but I'm not sure it's sensible.

As long as you discuss how to use it safely and when it should be used (with your supervision) it should be okay. Maybe say you'll keep it somewhere safe so they can use it when they want but you'd have to get it for them? My DC have all used much sharper and bigger knives than that at a younger age because they were supervised. Your DC could do as much damage with a butter knife

@Pascha

Hmm. Very split opinions here. It's my son and my sister is asking me before she buys it. He is a cub (due to go up to scouts fairly soon though). I think he would like it but I'm not sure it's sensible.

Has he got his knife certificate yet? If not can you ask when? It might be an idea for next year if you're not sure. Maybe a head torch instead?

Yes, if you emphasise it's only for taking out on country walks etc. He must never take it to school or to meet friends in streets etc. My DS had a penknife with rules like this and we had no issues.

@Pascha

Hmm. Very split opinions here. It's my son and my sister is asking me before she buys it. He is a cub (due to go up to scouts fairly soon though). I think he would like it but I'm not sure it's sensible.

In the US bear scouts take a knife safety course and at the completion they are awarded an official scout knife. Is that not the same there? They will also retake it to get their whittling chit when they cross over. In scouts he will need it