Kids Can Cook with This Safe (But Real) Knife

Misono Child's Mini Knife, $65; korin.comBy Carla Lalli Music, Bon Appétit

Having children robbed me of many of life's pleasures (sleeping in, dozing off on the beach, finishing a sentence), but it never stopped me from eating. I held my babies on my lap at restaurants--so what if I dropped food on their heads trying to get the fork in my mouth? They survived. These days, my kids both help in the kitchen (for the 3-year-old, "help" means crushing--not cracking--eggs against the side of a bowl and then losing interest while I pick minute particles of shell out of the batter). Supposedly this will make them better eaters; studies show that kids who participate in meal preparation are more likely to try new things.

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I've found that is true, so I did what any supportive, risk-averse mother would do: I bought my 8-year-old son a knife. No, it's not a toy. It's legit (so legit it's Japanese!). The rounded tip is designed for safety, but that's an actual blade, and he can really slice mushrooms and chop garlic with it. I've taught him how to hold it properly, and we slice and dice side by side. So far, no blood. If my plan works, he'll still be doing the cooking when he's got kids of his own.

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