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Why I Let Children Play with Knives: The Importance of Taking Calculated Risks In A Child’s Development.

12 March 2025 by James Bradshaw

It might seem controversial at first glance, but yes – I let children as young as five use knives at our outdoor education sessions at Ambleford. Before you raise an eyebrow or two, let me explain why this practice is not only safe but crucial to children’s development.

At Ambleford, we understand deeply the importance of allowing children to take calculated risks. Handling tools such as knives – whether it’s for cooking or whittling – helps children develop responsibility, fine motor skills, focus, and (perhaps above all) resilience. These aren’t skills gained from textbooks alone, but from hands-on experience and trust.

To ensure safety, we follow clear, non-negotiable rules that every child learns and repeats until they’re second nature:

  1. Creating a Safe Bubble: Children define and protect a clear perimeter around themselves when working, ensuring no one accidentally steps into their workspace.
  2. Protective Glove: Until a child confidently masters knife handling, they wear a cut-resistant glove on the hand not holding the tool. The hand with the tool in is always bare.
  3. Whittling Away from the Body: We teach children to always carve away from themselves—a technique adequate for 90% of all crafting tasks. If chopping food we teach a ‘bridge-method’, where we slice down under a bridge formed by our thumb and forefinger. Advanced techniques come later, once proficiency is firmly established.
  4. Blunt-ended Knives for Beginners: We start every child with knives that have rounded tips, only transitioning to pointed tools after they’ve demonstrated full competence and confidence. (If anyone is interested I can send a link to the inexpensive tools that we use here at Ambleford.) They only injury that would concern me from a knife would be a puncture wound – so, we take that risk away completely for beginners.
  5. Responsible Movement: Knives are always sheathed when moving around. Safety is paramount, and this rule is drilled in repeatedly.

When parents occasionally join us on-site, their initial reaction to seeing their children handling knives is often understandable anxiety. They tend to hover (sometimes while literally) over their child protectively, but ironically, this can introduce additional risks by distracting the child or undermining their confidence. Yet, when parents step back and observe, they are frequently amazed by their child’s maturity and focus. Children invariably rise to meet the trust placed in them, demonstrating respect for the tool and pride in their achievements.

Of course, minor cuts occasionally happen – but almost always due to momentary lapses in following these well-established rules. These small incidents are far outweighed by the tremendous benefits. Research consistently supports this approach, indicating that carefully managed exposure to risk fosters greater resilience and decreases anxiety in children. For example, a recent study from the University of Exeter highlighted that children who regularly engage in outdoor, risk-managed activities demonstrate significantly higher levels of confidence, lower anxiety, and improved overall mental well-being compared to their peers kept in highly controlled environments.

Letting children experience moments of discomfort, such as feeling cold outdoors, climbing tall trees, lighting fires safely, and handling knives responsibly, prepares them effectively for life’s inevitable challenges. In the UK especially, knives carry heavy negative connotations due to recent media focus, but within controlled environments and strict safety protocols, they serve as valuable educational tools.

In trusting children with significant responsibility, we communicate our belief in their competence, granting them invaluable lessons that stay with them far beyond childhood. This approach, perhaps surprisingly, results in moments of pure joy, confidence, and emotional growth – for children and educators alike.

In short, letting children play with knives – carefully, responsibly, and under vigilant but trusting supervision – isn’t just about making crafts or cooking. It’s about equipping young people with life-long resilience, independence, and confidence. And in a world that’s often unpredictable, these skills might be the greatest gift we can offer them.

Filed Under: Children

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Flora Homewood
06:56 22 Feb 25
My daughter had the most wonderful day and enjoyed every part. She came home smiling and full of stories. She loved the activities, your dog and the goats and she was so proud of what she had achieved (fire lighting, bracelet making, whittling and even mud sliding! ).
cnc Router Cutting
06:17 20 Feb 25
Leander(7) just had another 3 amazing days immersed in a unique outdoor woody earthy vibe. He got to run around a lot and express parts of himself in making new friends, being part of a group/tribe, making team dens and play defending them as well as learning bush craft skills. He's tired and happy at the end of the day, content, how it aught to be. Thank you all at Ambleford Farm for creating a safe and magical world for him and others.
Holly Creusot
16:05 19 Feb 25
My boys absolutely love Ambleford - James and the team are great. Highly recommend!
Jades Thomas
18:16 17 Feb 25
A fabulous forest school with such innovative and creative activities for the children. My 5 year old son had a fantastic time today!
Iszi Vine
17:55 17 Feb 25
My 7 year old daughter absolutely loves going to her home Ed day at Ambleford as well the holiday club. I believe she’s made friends for life here. She can truly be herself and gets up to all sorts of fun & mischief in nature. Highly recommend.
Zaneta T.
13:33 20 Jan 25
We celebrated our son’s birthday at Ambleford farm and everyone truly enjoyed themselves the whole time. It captivated both, boys and girls and they all loved learning lots of new bushcraft skills.
Rebecca Wareham
00:03 05 Jan 25
An absolutely wonderful archery and axe throwing party for my daughter’s 8th birthday. She, her friends and we had a brilliant time. James was so helpful from start to finish and so good with all the children, making the activities so much fun for everyone. The setting is stunning, even more atmospheric with all the frost, and it truly was a very special experience. Thank you! Thoroughly recommend!
R & K Tree
21:15 29 Dec 24
My 8 year old absolutely loves the weekly home education sessions at Ambleford. James and Vinny are superb with the children, offering educational, fun activities, but equally giving the children the freedom to follow their own interests. The children are very well supported in their emotional and interpersonal development. James also provides detailed feedback after each session, as well as photo updates during the sessions. We couldn't ask for a better place for our child!
Susanne Austin
17:04 16 Feb 24
Amazing. Kids loved it and had to drag them home
Cat Kudish
16:46 16 Feb 24
Superb half term forest school session, my two boys (8 & 5) absolutely loved it. There were tears at home time, the littlest didn't want to leave! A really varied day with a wonderful team in a great setting.
Zoe Pepper
11:48 15 Feb 24
My son has the best time when he goes to Ambleford. He loves animals and the outdoors, so this place is perfect! He learns skills that he otherwise may not at school. James and his team are the best! The updates on Class Dojo are fab to see throughout the day and what they’re up to. Thank you Ambleford, we’ll be back again soon.
Debs C
20:19 14 Feb 24
My son (8) really loved it. Very friendly place.
Catherine Gallagher
17:12 14 Feb 24
Jasmine's 3rd time at Ambleford, she LOVES it! So good for building her confidence and character... and so it would seem, the rainier and muddier the better!
Milly Potter
21:59 13 Feb 24
My children (5yo boy and 8yo girl) both had the most wonderful day. They were greeted so warmly and immediately made to feel at home.Their day sounded like so much fun and when I collected them they were tired, muddy and happy. They’re already looking forward to another day out at the forest!
Laura Finan
22:18 17 Dec 23
The Father Christmas experience was the best one I’ve ever been to. My daughter said he was definitely the real Father Christmas as he knew their names and all about them, as well as having a real beard. My 20 month old was a little unsure to start with, but because we had such a good long time with Father Christmas, he soon came around. The magic bells and the super soft bunnies are lovely. Thank you so much. We will definitely be back next year!
Rachelle Caton
19:03 25 Oct 23
An amazing forest school in a beautiful setting, with very welcoming staff! Thank you for a great half term camp that my daughter attended, she was a little apprehensive initially for her first visit, she settled really quickly when Emily took her under her wing! She can’t wait to go back to the next session, thank you! Highly recommended.
Sarah Power
16:22 07 Aug 23
A brilliant ninth birthday party for our daughter with the archery, private mud hut with fire pit to toast marshmallows, a throne, hand made natural crown and more causing much excitement amongst her friends. Just the more unique and lively party atmosphere we were looking for!
Book Nook
09:09 17 Jun 22
My daughter did 2 sessions in the Easter holidays and is STILL talking about it. James and Emily listen to the interests of the children and follow their lead despite planned activities. Their days were full of adventures. My usually shy 5 year old was beaming and not in a hurry to leave by home time. We hope to start more regular sessions in the Autumn.
Dave Thompson
16:37 11 Apr 22
My daughter and friend had such a wonderful day at Ambleford's Easter camp! They tried their hands at so many new skills and enjoyed den building, cake baking on the campfire, feeding the goats, planting and an Easter egg hunt! What a day - thanks so much to James and Emily. We'll be back!
Rebecca Wilson
11:23 09 Apr 22
My 5 year old had an amazing time at the Easter holiday club forest school. She enjoyed baking a cake on the fire and collecting eggs from the chickens as well as building and playing on an obstacle course. Thank you James & Emily for all the efforts put in to making Ambleford Farm such a success!
Charlotte Shears
18:58 09 Jan 22
Great experience for my 5 year old. Started the course not a fan of the outdoors, James built her confidence and will now quite happily be crawling through bushes and hunting for the muddiest area for the best things to build a den with!
sophie moss
18:16 09 Jan 22
Wonderful experience foe my 5 yr old. He did a 6 week course. James was friendly, instructive and ensure the children were safe at all times. A beautiful place to make fun childhood memories.

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