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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 6:22:38 GMT
So a thought popped into my head today about how I am going to handle any kids that I might have and swords.
This thought had planted itself in my mind recently when I've been trying to decide if I want to buy the Needle from the Ice and Fire site. It's specs classify it as battle ready and the only thing stopping it would be how they shaped the tang. Then I got to thinking that it would be a great first euro, maybe to cut juicey juice boxes or something.
Don't get me wrong, I don't plan on forcing the hobby onto them. But if any of my future children take up an interest in swords, at what age do you guys think that a child would be able to handle a sharpened blade.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 6:49:04 GMT
Oh jeeze, that's a tough one. I had pocket knives when I was very young and sparred my cousins with sticks at age 4 or so. Didn't get my first sword until I was 15.
I think Liam, Tom K. and Gman should chime in; they all have young children and could give you a better perspective than I. All I can really say is 'when they're old enough to handle it safely'. Some of us never really reach that point.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 7:00:49 GMT
I say that due to physical strength, body size, and maturity level, a child should not handle a sharp until they are between 14-16; and then only under adult supervision. Before this, and their bodies lack the capabilities to properly handle a sword in most cases; and their mindsets are not geared to give the weapon full respect. A child should never be unattended with a sword, just as they should never be unattended with a firearm.
My children all own blunts, and they can work the pell all day long if they wish. They can only cut under my direct supervision. I have my children help me doing scabbards, leatherwork, etc...where they get plenty of hands on time and parental guidance from myself. Swords are a big deal around here, but I keep all the sharps locked up and only I have the key.
As for owning their own sharps, my children can buy them when they are 18 and out of my home. I've seen the stupid stuff teenagers do, and I damn sure won't be legally responsible for helping give them a lethal weapon to accidently kill themselves or someone else.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jun 4, 2010 7:55:47 GMT
I like Midori's answer: when they are old enough to do it safely and be responsible with it under supervision.
this is going to be different for every kid, my son Rowan is extremely bright and well behaved. not too long ago he was very interested in swords and cutting. he was learning sword work at his dojo and I taught him a lot too using shinai during that time. one day Rowan was exceptionally well focused and doing everything right it was one of those magical days. so I let him cut for the first time about two weeks before he turned 7. even though he was extremely excited as can be heard in his chatter he always did exactly as he was instructed. He has only cut three times total. his interest in swords has dropped lately and he doesn't attend the dojo anymore so he hasn't cut in quite a while and I'm not about to let him. so even though he was ok to cut about a year and a half ago he is not ok to cut today. this is the sort of thing that has to be thought about and considered each and every time. you can't just say "yea he's ok from now on." in fact I ask myself the same question about ME every time I cut: "Am I ready to cut today, am I ok?" there have been times when I have answered "no" and I didn't cut. I think if a parent has a no B.S. aproach and ensures their kids are properly trained before they cut there's no reason to not allow them to cut when they are ready. a kid's size, strength, and physical coordination are different for every kid at a certain age so there's really not set age one can say "they've developed the motor skills needed byt his age" you have to judge that, but don't worry if you train you will see it in the training.
here's Rowan cutting for the very first time at age 7 (but legally still 6):
I also agree with Odingaard on when a kid can own a sword. maybe they'll get one as a graduation present. . . MAYBE
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Post by enkidu on Jun 4, 2010 11:58:17 GMT
I have two kids, and personally i agree with Odin, wait until they're teenagers and with supervision, if only the strength and motricity factor were important that would be sufficient, but there's also the maturity factor.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 12:22:46 GMT
Mentally, I'd have to say if they arent ready to be handed a .22 rifle...... then I'd say the same for an edged weapon.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 15:37:59 GMT
When they are mature enough. No way should there have been weapons of any kind that I had any access to in the house when I was even 14 to 16. Out of the house that I could go to to use were fine as young as 6, thus throwing axes, riflery, archery and such at that age, but not in the house. I'd have eliminated all 3 of my siblings. My kids will likely be the same way, which worries me because I Will have weapons in the house and they Will be able to get into any safe or through any lock I may put in place. God knows I did as a kid and that plus my wife's intelligence in a child scares the crap out of me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 15:43:25 GMT
I don't think there's a specific age, more a level of maturity which you'll have to judge yourself.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 16:15:51 GMT
Well yeah, I agree that it has nothing to do with the number and everything to do with maturity.
And Tom, well done to you kid for making it through the tatami, but I think that IF my kids take an interest, I'd use something a little more forgiving =P
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 16:26:24 GMT
Put the sword underneath a large rock. When the child is strong enough to push the rock aside, he or she can have the sword. ...Yeah, I like the classic approach. Sue me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 17:02:18 GMT
plastic swords and wasters I've had since I was about 4, but I only got a blunt (sword...) when I was ten and then bought my own first (real) sword when I was 16. I had (at that point) handled other people's sharps though...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 19:13:26 GMT
It was a long time ago, but I think by 8 I had an 18 inch or so bayonet, and a mace There were never any problems, My dad taught me respect for weapons, and I was shooting by then under parental supervision, and driving cars by 10
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2010 21:41:46 GMT
I got my first wooden sword with 5 or 6 and my first real sword with 11. It was a blunt though. I sharpened it myself when I was about 14 I think. After spending a year in the USA and discovering SBG I got my first sharp with 16, a tenchi ko kat and since then I moved up to the AT-1432 I just got. Looking back, I think I and my family were pretty lucky, I could have seriously injured someone with the blunt I got with 11. Did some very wild swinging and all that. So I think a blunt with 14 would be fine, especially if you have someone experienced with swords to watch you. I didn't have that so I had to learn everything myself. I'm just glad I did so without killing myslf. To sum it up, I think kids are ready for a sharp when they have proved with a blunt that they know how to handle a sharp blade and are aware of the lethal power swords posses.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jun 4, 2010 22:21:34 GMT
I think I have a bit of a unique perspective on this point... being still 15 (16 next month) myself, and having gotten my first 'real' sword almost two years ago, with SLO's showing up practically bi-weekly for a year before that. Quite frankly, I agree with what many other's have said; MATURITY MATURITY MATURITY!!! I know that I have friends my age and older that I'd die before I let them get my swords, cause they'd do stupid, irresponisble things with it. I could say the same about some 25 year olds I know. Of course, I know a few kids well under my age that I'd feel perfectly confident leaving with a sharp alone (not that I WOULD, but if I needed to for any reason, I could trust them). So, for MY future kids? I'd say between 10 and 20, lol. Unless I'm a complete failure as a parent, I would think any kid who grew up around swords could be taught the nessacery respect for them that must be had at LEAST be 15 or so, but then again, I'm not a parent, so what do I know? All I can say is that I do know of at least one case where a 15 year old is certinaly ready to own/use swords; ME. I know that some of our members disapprove of myself bearing so much responsibility for such awesome weaponry (I mean awesome as in potent, not as in tenn slang), but I know personally my own mindset and have not a doubt that I can handle it. It's not even an issue at this point; it's not something I NEED to think about, because my mindset is so self-engineered to respect the power of a deadly weapon. That doesn't mean that I don't (sometimes stupidly) abuse my swords doing things they weren't designed to do, but I ALWAYS take precautions, I'm always careful, and I never just assume that 'it won't happen to me'. All this to say? Hopefully by their mid-teens. Possibly before, possible after, possibly never. DEFINITELY to be decided on a case-to-case basis. Oh, and if anyone wants to lecture me about something, I won't mind, just please do it via PM so that we don't clutter such a useful and insightful thread. Thanks for starting this, Greg! +1 2 U. It's actually a subject that I've been pondering lately... not that I'm going to have kids for the next decade or so, but it's an intellectual query that I simply could not resist attempting to solve... so this certainly helps greaten my perspective. -Slayer
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jun 4, 2010 22:49:27 GMT
My son is 13 .. he just got his first REAL sword. He is only allowed to cut with me present...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2010 2:41:15 GMT
I grew up with just my mother and she has never understood the facination with sharp pointies. I have owned knives for as long as I can remember and when I joined cub scouts I got a machette and a camp hatchet as part of my gear. I never attempted to use them as toys because I was taught that they were tools and a means to an end.
I bought my first (SLO) from Atlanta Cutlery. My Marto Highlander katana. 440 Stainless and I thought I was in heaven. I think my cub and later boyscout upbringing really gave me the maturity and appreciation for what sharp objects are capable of and prepared me for my addiction later in my life.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2010 0:12:26 GMT
Like others said here, it more ore less has to deal with what the child is like. I don't have children myself but I belong to another club that is a ride on minature railway where the members that apart of their club involve their kids with it. A number of the kids, as young as eight or nine, get to drive the trains around the track pulling paid public riders behind them on the cars. Some of them even run the steam engines which is another very dangerous complex thing for a young child to do. So like I said, it depends on the individual. Onigaad, I love your idea about locking the swords in a closet. I will do that if I ever start a family.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2010 18:44:42 GMT
Okay, since my son is only four the only swords he is allowed to own are his NERF swords. That being said he will probably be ready for a wooden waster at about the 6-8 age range if he has proven responsible enough to handle one safely. Metal blunt at about age 10 proven he is still responsible. A sharp would be given at about 12-13 years old but only used with dad's supervision. I have actually thought very long and hard about this subject. I have based these ages on hunting/firearm laws. In the state of KY and in several others a child as young as twelve is allowed to go hunting with firearms with a parent present. If we are allowing children that young to handle firearms than those same children can be taught how to safely handle a sword. Now much of this would depend on the maturity of the individual child and as a father, my son would have to show some serious responsibility to be allowed such privileges. My son does love swords and martial arts and I want to send him for real martial training at the earliest age possible, but only if he proves responsible enough for it. That being said, my own son has not proved that responsible yet which is why his Nerf swords and shield are put away in dad's closet and he has not yet stepped foot into a dojo, dojang, or other martial school. That's my $0.02
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2010 3:27:19 GMT
My sons 3 1/2 yrs and he see's my swords regularly, see's me cut with them, he gets a little more excited these days about that.
He's allowed to watch from inside through the fly screen. He doesnt try to seek them out or touch them because they are just a normal element in the house. Thats a good step when they are young, also letting them touch the handles or scabbards while telling them "You gotta be carefull its sharp", he knows he's being taught a lesson and he pays attention and because he's aware of them they arent the "secret alluring mystery of naughtiness".
I dont care what he feels about swords and stuff when he's older. But doing things like buying wasters at 5 or a blunt at 12 is a pretty good idea. Give baby their bottle at certain points in their interest to keep them satisfied (if the passion is obviously there with much begging). Awareness, Acceptence, Respect and Supervision. Cant go to wrong.
And let them know you only do any of it so they dont bleed and die.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2010 4:53:21 GMT
I intend to not only give my future children swords upon birth but to have them proficiently trained with them by the time they can walk and by 13 they will be the most deadly warriors on this earth .........now that I think about it maybe I shouldn't even own swords :S
and on a side note Tom.k that was one of the cutest videos in the whole world
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