My grandchild wields a kitchen knife

She's only 5 years old, but of her own volition, she fetches the step-ladder (taller than she is) that can get her up to counter height.

We practice this:  when you cut, you put your hand on top of the knife, not under it.

And then you can push down.

Because if you put your hand under the knife, we'd have to stop chopping apples to go get bandaids.   No one wants to do that.  We just chop apples. 

 And so the next generation begins the journey to self-sufficiency in the kitchen, stepladders and knives and all.