DH lost his mind over this

[Sunsetred]

I was in the kitchen with my 3 year old making sandwiches. She was using an adult table knife to spread the cheese spread. My DH walked in and went mad because she wasn't using a plastic knife. I think he's completely over reacted. He's insisting that I've done something really bad by letting DD use a table knife. AIBU to have let her use a table knife at her age?

Batshit reaction from DH. She will never learn if she's not allowed to try. My 6 yo has been making his own sandwiches (with a lot of help to begin with!) since he was 2.5. He also uses the cheese grater, toaster, sharp cutting knife to assist with dinner prep etc etc. Children LOVE to join in and 'help', and that should be encouraged... All with age appropriate supervision and instruction, of course!

😂

Your DH needs counselling, seriously he is going to mess your child up if he doesn’t sort his issues :-/

She wasn’t using a Stanley knife ffs 🙄

She's 3 so presumably at some form of nursery/childminder - most likely to be using actual kitchen knives, hammers under supervision there. what about real cups, glasses, plates which are used in lots of Montessori/hygge settings. Totally normal to be using proper cutlery by this age. He can't wrap her in cotton wool forever & it's a parents job to teach children how to carry out perfectly normal tasks safely not hinder their development by not allowing them to develop these skills.

Benefits of risky play for young children, perhaps your DH could have a read

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/teaching-wiki/risky-play

My 3 year old daughter could genuinely light the fire (with supervision) she is now 19

By that age mine all knew how to handle a proper metal knife, how to pass a knife, and how to cut mushrooms in quarters with the least sharp kitchen knife.

He needs to stop before he gives her anxiety

Even if, in some alternative universe, he had a point, adults don't "lose their minds" with adults they love and care about.

Control freak

No idea lol we do the deed and now have 4 thankyou covid years lol

Do you usually use swords or a sabatier as a table knife a la ancient warriors?

I agree.

I actually think your husband needs counselling as his behaviour is not just unreasonable but deeply worrying. If your young daughter is already showing signs of anxiety over totally normal activities, this could turn into downright neurosis as she grows older.

OMG he'd be apoplectic if he knew me. I let my toddler use a sharp pointed vegetable knife under supervision!! He's now 6.5 years old and very competent with it! It does depend on the child thou, if you think they're going to start running about with said knife stick to the toddler cutlery!

How is she going to learn how to use cutlery??? Or is he going to cut every single meal up for her??? The silly man. If she's supervised then what's the problem??

Aww I was looking for the update where the OP admits that she mis-typed and meant to say the tiny DC was using a chainsaw...

https://merrypad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/stihl-gian-chainsaw-merrypad-original_900.jpg

He's being ridiculous. I let my DD use the table/butter knife all the time at that age.

In order to cut at all, plastic knives are serrated and extremely damaging if dragged across skin, leaving a very nasty rip in the skin.
On the other hand table knives - so long as they are not serrated steak knives are pretty blunt and it is much harder to get through skin.
Your husband is not being rational.

Was she using a scalpel or a cut-throat razor? If not then I don't see the problem.

Don’t let your daughter go to a Montessori nursery. He’d have a complete break down 🤣🤣🤣

Yanbu

Sounds like my husband! I remember him practically having a breakdown when he came home and saw our 2 year old using 'actual' scissors (rather than the rubbish plastic ones that don't cut air!). I think he'd have gone into cardiac arrest if he'd seen me allowing 3 and 4 year olds to using 'actual' hammers, nails and handsaws in my workplace. I'm a Nursery Nurse and we were always taught that children should, under supervision, use proper implements from an early age to understand how to use them safely.

You should send her to Montessori school - my 3yo was chopping veg with proper knives at that age and sawing wood!
(TBF the sight of him sawing wood was terrifying as he was so accident prone!)

At what age does he think child will be safe with a knife? I still do the odd accidental cut into flesh while chopping things. And I am a grown-up.