Does your county offer clinics for various projects? ours does and things like this are covered. since the members work on their actual projects at home the parents would be responsible for the supervision of cutting/sewing. If a parent does not want their child to use a rotary cutter they can have them use scissors and have the child explain that to the judges. Remember, below the age of 8 they are cloverbuds and wouldn't be doing an actual project that would require a rotary cutter. 4H projects require kids use all types of tools-in the workshop, sewing room, kitchen and in many cases handling large animals. The projects/books emphasize safety.