Originally Posted by bearisgray
My granddaughters were using my rotary cutters when they were like seven and nine.
(Not necessarily with permission - the first time)
Get a cutter that automatically closes when it's put down.
I hear about very young children working in sweat shops in foreign countries -
Teach him how to use the tools properly -
I agree with two factions here: (1) to get your son used to using a sewing machine, pinning, piecing, placement, values and color combinations, have him use leftover pre-cut strips and scraps PLUS precut pieces (precut by you) as needed. Get him hooked on the CRAFT first and work through the technical issues along the way
(2) I also recommend using a rotary cutter that automatically closes when you put it down. With my 6-year-old grandson, My hand is lightly on his as he cuts NLT 12" pieces of [whatever]. BUT MY GRANDSON, with things like this, is VERY focused, VERY safety conscious (thanks to his mom and dad) and DOES NOT FOOL AROUND when working in the sewing room. He does not fool around in his Daddy's Workshop, and he does not fool around in Granddaddy's workshop. My sewing room tools and machinery are no less dangerous and I also stressed it's a SEWING room, not a PLAY room.
(3) Between safety and technique lessons, be sure to allow a good amount of Design Board Play. My granddaughter (age 4) and grandson (age 6) have "designed" their last two quilts from blocks I've made. I do the work, they do the block arrangement - we work through balance, symmetry and math this way. When they were even younger, I let them arrange squares on the design board, not just to let them play and discover color, but to get a real personal feel for the energy of the/my sewing room; once they feel it, they get it and the respect it. I have never had a discipline problems with either or both of the kids in my sewing room.