It depends on the job that they are doing. Teach them to use the appropriate tool for the job. Trying to use a tool for a job that it is not suited to can be dangerous. I'm assuming that you're worried about safety here...

Utility knives can seem safer because the blades are quite short, but that can be deceptive and also the handle/grip style leads to them being used without the finesse that is developed when using a longer blade and less chunky handle. I would suggest a small sharp penknife or multi-tool is more suitable for learning with than a utility knife.

It does also depend on exactly what you are expecting the knife to be used for - cutting cardboard? whittling wood? slicing steak? Some knives are more multi purpose than others (my mother claimed her bread knife was never the same after my father cut down a sapling at a camp site with it!)

You're never too cautions when it comes to kids. So ... NO . don't put them anywhere near danger !

I use them all the time, and I'm 13. My dad taughtme the proper etiquette and I needed nothing more.

The knife rule in my family is that a kid gets a pocket knife at age ten. So far, everyone still has all their appendages and no one has been injured seriously.

It depends on the age of the kids in question, but I would actually say that since utility knives have much sharper blades than any small pocket knife a kid is going to have, they can often cut cleanly though whatever is cut- and keep going. I have sliced myself more with razor blades than other knives.

Who says knives proper are not for kids ? Ours have been raised with access to scalpel sharp knives and chisels, and still have all their appendages - even Jonnybo111

Steve

Here is a knife that is super safe to use....I found them on American Science and Surplus.

YES!!!!

If, by "utility knife", you mean something like this, then they are more dangerous than pen knives or multi-tools, because they are far sharper, and more likely to cut through materials too quickly and jump into flesh.

Both my boys have multi-tools, and have never cut themselves with them (although Roger-X did manage to close a penknife on the tip of his thumb).

Its ok if you teach them how to properly use a knife, don't let them play with them, that usually leads to injury.