I started sewing when I was 8 on my mother's Singer. You do need to give instructions on cutting and the sewing machine needle, but if she is interest let her try. I didn't hurt myself sewing until I was 54. So age doesn't make a different. You can go to Harbor Freight and buy pane glass carrying suction cups for your rulers. This will be like a handle on the ruller that will keep her fingers way away from the blade. Rotary cutting would be the only thing I would worry about.