At what age did you let your child use a sharp knife

[cranbury]

Dd is only 3 but loves chopping. She only gets a blunt knife which doesn't do a very good job. She is very sensible but at what age can she use a kitchen knife or has anybody found knives that are good for little hands

Sharp knives are said to be safer because they actually cut the first time and so dont need extra pressure.
If she is a child who follows instructions well I would give her a proper small knife and let her practice on bread first. If she does well let her help you when you cook.

I let my very sensible DD chop veg with a small serrated knife when she was about 3 1/2. Obviously closely observed by me.

I let DD and DS chop things at this age, the trick is to give them soft things like banana or cheese then the knife won't slip or bounce or too cut things wide and thin (IYSWIM?) before you give it too them. They can chop carrot and apple as long as it isn't very thick/tall on the chopping board. They have a sharp knife like me but never use it unsupervised.

We use a small veg knife, it is quite good for little hands

Yes DS is 4 and I have let him chop with a sharp knife since 3 (very closely supervised). The one I give him is a short fruit and veg-paring knife with a comfy plastic handle and non-serrated blade (because I find myself when chopping the serrated ones are much nastier if you catch a finger on them). It is much easier for him to chop things for cooking with a proper sharp knife, so much less frustrating for him.

DD was 3 (and also closely supervised) when I first let her use a small sharp knife. No mishaps so far.

DS has been using a sharp knife with hand over hand supervision since 2.5, and is just being allowed to use it on his own at 3.5

My dd has been using a small veg knife since she was about 3, she is now 8.7 and seems to have forgotten the lessons involved. Sawing seems to have gone out of the window in favour of pressure. Pressure = potential for skid off chopping board means a reduction in the amount of choppage she does now.

3 here too, but only supervised. DS usually chops mushrooms, but has also done some veg. DP got in a bit of a flap about it but I pointed out it was perfectly safe if we are there in control.

From around 4/5. I had a small one that was the perfect size for them.

Great thanks it was my instinct that it was okay for them if supervised at this age. Some recommendations I found on the internet says 11 years old!

I'm thinking of getting DS who is 4 one of these. Having read the Continuum Concept i know I should be brave and give him a normal sharp knife but I'm not!