My children (who are now 11 and 12) sew and quilt. They use scissors and if there is a need for a rotary cutter...an absolute need - which if you think about it there really isn't an absolute need b/c people have been quilting forever without rotary cutters - I do the cutting for them.
They've been sewing and piecing quilt tops for a couple of years. There is no need for a rotary cutter.
Yes, there are rotary cutters that automatically close when you put them down. How does that prevent a child from cutting themselves as they are cutting strips? It doesn't.
Supervision, being in the same room and keeping an eye on them. How does that prevent a child from cutting themselves as they are cutting fabric?
You may think I'm harsh but I'm 40 years old. I'm careful and I've worked with dangerous tools all my life.
In June I cut the end of my finger, including a large portion of my finger nail. I not only cut it, I cut it off.
I didn't clip the bone or anything, because it was more of a slice along the side and tip because of the way I was holding my ruler.
I was holding the rotary cutter, no one would have been able to grab the cutter away from me to prevent my injury regardless of how close they were watching.
Please, there is no need for a child to use a rotary cutter. Scissors, they have been used for years before rotary cutters even existed. Scissors, many of my quilting ladies who I take classes with and sew with, cut with scissors.