Cooking Video for Kids: Knife Safety for Kids (Ages 2-12) – draft

I grabbed all four of my kids from playing outside on this beautiful sunny day to teach you the skill we feel is most important in any kitchen: knife skills.

Grab a banana, a carrot, an apple, a potato, and a willing child… And let’s get to work!

Can’t view the video? Watch it here on YouTube.

Knife Safety for Kids

No time to watch the whole video? Here are the notes!

• 0:46: We start with my 5-year-old using a banana and a butter knife. Gabe is using the “Hey, hey! Out of the way!” hold on the banana.
• 2:03: John (8-years-old) demonstrates “Up and over soldier” and “Top chop!” with a sharp knife. We have a tip for when your cutting board is moving around too much on the counter.
• 3:16: My daughter Leah (age 11) demonstrates how to cut up an apple.
• 4:23: 14-year-old Paul shows us how to dice a potato.
• 4:45: We bought 7 peppers yesterday which won’t keep fresh so we chop them up to freeze. Bonus tip: you can freeze peppers without blanching or any special method.

Find more cooking videos for kids here!

Teaching kids how to use knives safely in the kitchen can help them become more independent, get creative, and pick up essential skills like responsibility and focus. Starting them off with kid-friendly tools lets them have fun exploring textures and shapes while learning to be in control and make decisions. As a parent, you guide them, building trust, encouraging critical thinking, and boosting their confidence with supervision, questions, and lots of support.

Banana and Butter Knife for Young Kids

Young fingers grip a butter knife, an eager smile spreads, and the journey begins. We introduce knife safety in the softest, safest way, starting with bananas. Firm yet yielding, a banana offers the perfect practice ground. It doesn’t resist; it welcomes the cut, teaching control instead of force.

We begin by stabilizing the banana. “Hold it steady,” we say, guiding little hands still learning firmness from gentleness. The butter knife slides through the fruit, dull enough to mitigate fears but sharp enough to create results. Small sections fall neatly apart, each cut a lesson in precision.

The kids lean in closer, their focus unbroken. “Try choking up on the knife for more control,” we suggest. They adjust their grip instinctively, following the rhythm we demonstrate. The soft side of the knife’s edge against the cutting board seems to echo their growing confidence.

Without realizing it, they’re learning the basics—the press of the hand, the angle of the blade, and the care that prevents mishaps. Mistakes happen, of course, but that’s part of mastering anything valuable.  At this stage, It’s not just about technique; it’s about feeling capable and curious – where they can create and contribute.

Sharp Knife Skills for Older Kids

Sharp knives demand precision, focus, and respect. By the time kids are ready to use them, they’ve already mastered smaller tasks with butter or plastic knives. To help them transition to sharp knives, we guide them step by step, ensuring they connect earlier lessons to these advanced tools.

“Let’s keep that cutting board steady,” we might say, placing a dishcloth beneath it as John examines his carrot. It wobbles slightly before lying flat. His fingers curl, tucked safely away, and the knife glides downward with a solid push. Stability becomes second nature through practice—minor adjustments like this stay with them long after the lesson ends.

We begin with sharp blades with soft items like cucumbers or apples. Their forgiving texture allows kids to build confidence while handling sharper edges. “Don’t rush—just a clean slice,” we suggest, watching. The first cut is hesitant but steady. Once the fruit is whole, it begins to transform under their care—a tactile reminder that control stems not from strength but from mindfulness.

Choking up on the knife handle helps maintain control. Gabe, at five, practiced this with butter knives, and now, at eight, his grip is firm yet relaxed, an echo of earlier lessons. As they progress, children learn techniques like the top chop, adding a slight burst of energy to each cut while keeping their fingers safe from harm.

Carrots, denser and trickier, come later. The resistance tests their technique, ensuring they master more straightforward items first. With each slice, there’s a rhythm, a slight but intentional pause before each motion. It’s not just about cutting—it’s about keeping their focus as the knife becomes an extension of their hand.

Apple Cutting Technique

We begin apple cutting by stressing the importance of blade direction. To ensure safety, we avoid cutting ourselves. For kids, we teach the “tunnel method,” which involves curling their fingers into a safe tunnel shape over the fruit. This keeps little hands away from the blade’s path. “Hold the apple steady. Now, move your knife carefully through the tunnel,” we say, guiding their motions. The knife slices through the fruit with precision, revealing clean edges. Little by little, their confidence grows as the act transforms from cautious to assured.

We introduce a tug-of-war method with the knife for younger children, emphasizing controlled pull-push motions. “Slow and steady wins” reinforces their focus on the blade’s path. Once they’ve mastered cutting halves, they can move to quarters, still using the controlled slicing technique.

We emphasize keeping fingers pressed flat on the cutting board as they grip. “Turn your fingertips back! Keep them out of the way,” reminds them to prioritize safety over haste. Each slice into the firm apple is a small victory that adds to their growing skills.

Potato Cutting and Safety Tips

Firm and resistant under a knife’s edge, potatoes require careful technique to manage their density and uneven shape. When slicing them, stable positioning becomes non-negotiable. A damp cloth beneath the cutting board secures it firmly, ensuring it doesn’t slide mid-cut. Safety begins here, with stability anchoring every movement.

“Keep your fingers tall like a soldier!” we gently remind them, showing how to hold the potato edge-down with fingertips tucked under. This posture protects delicate fingers as the blade glides downward in deliberate strokes. The crosshatch method transforms thick potato halves into slender, fry-like cuts that are precise and even. It’s not just about neatness; it reinforces control with every guided motion.

Our golden rule is one knife, one child, and one cutting board. Children must work alone in their space, avoiding the temptation to reach across or grab from someone else’s board. A knife in hand commands respect, and this boundary keeps interactions safe. We quietly guide this by saying, “Let’s wait until the knife’s set down before sharing.”

A sharp blade, paradoxically, carries less risk than a dull one. Sharper tools glide effortlessly, requiring minimal force. We demonstrate this difference with a comparative trial: slicing one potato using a dull knife, the other sharp. They see how fumbling with dullness creates tension, instability, and a real chance of mishaps.

Standing upright grants confidence and better control. “Straight back, feet steady,” we whisper, guiding them up from stools. As they align their bodies naturally, their arms follow, steadying the blade in one smooth arc. The potato yields, and they look up, beaming, catching the rhythm. Learning sharpens silently in these moments.

Finally, safety isn’t just in the hands—it’s all around the practice space. Removing chairs nearby minimizes distractions. Protective gear, like cut-resistant gloves, adds a layer of assurance for those first hesitant cuts. We stand close enough, offering occasional wrist guidance as their confidence grows. This is teaching, not hovering.

Each slice into a potato becomes something more—a quiet symphony of learning and accomplishment.

Freezing Peppers and Knife Safety

Freezing peppers offers an excellent opportunity to introduce kids to practical knife skills while ensuring safety remains a priority. When we work with peppers, their vibrant colors often captivate kids, sparking curiosity and engagement. We slice or dice them for freezing, teaching kid-controlled techniques and the importance of even cuts. If diced peppers are needed, allowing them to thaw for 15 minutes prevents any frustration from handling frozen pieces.

We emphasize fundamental knife safety as we guide kids through the process. Fingers stay curled under—away from the blade—like a protective arch. It’s the same rule no matter their grip preference, be it the professional pinch grip for better control or the pointer grip some naturally lean toward. The style isn’t as crucial as maintaining safety and confidence.

Our little chefs start with smaller, sharper knives, carefully supervised, to prevent overexertion and the risk of slips. A sharp blade means precision—a lesson naturally reinforced as they cut cleanly through pepper skins without force. We never treat these knives lightly, conveying that respect for the tool comes first, helping to build a mindful relationship with it.

Seated at the table, a child steadies their cutting board with one hand. There’s no rushing, no chaotic movement—just the quiet sound of a blade slicing through a pepper’s crisp surface. “Focus on where your hand’s guiding the blade,” we might remind them as they concentrate, their brow furrowing slightly. Small moments like these instill habits they’ll carry into future meals.

 

If you had fun with this recipe, check out our online cooking course!

Wrapping Up

Teaching kids knife safety at a young age helps build confidence, focus, and lifelong skills. We empower children to explore their creativity and independence in the kitchen by starting with simple tools and progressively introducing more challenging techniques. We believe every child deserves the chance to learn these essential skills safely, so we’re offering a free knife skills class designed for kids and parents. Join us to turn kitchen time into a fun, educational experience that strengthens bonds and encourages healthy habits. 

Unless otherwise credited, photos are owned by the author or used with a license from Canva or Deposit Photos.