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My youngest son loves cooking and making dishes in the kitchen. As his 8th birthday is in a few weeks my wife and I have decided to put him a chef’s kit together - a 4-5 inch petty knife, a smaller paring knife, spatula, spoon, sharpening kit, etc.

We’re looking for recommendations for the knives, particularly the petty. He’s a big kid so handle size isn’t a deal breaker, but a 5 inch blade is about his limit for good control. Also, any recommendations for any other practical bits of equipment a chef might use a lot in the kitchen would be much appreciated. I’m betting @vivi might have some good suggestions.

my daughter loves this, she's been using one for a few years. VG10 with a quality heat treat

https://knifewear.com/en-us/products/to ... toku-115mm



kiwi 172 is another good, safe option



they have a couple more inches of blade which makes certain tasks easier, but are very light and easy to handle. softer steel won't hold an edge like the tojiro but the geometry is extremely well done.

both will have enough knuckle clearance for a kid, and have blunted tips.

vivi wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 10, 2025 8:42 am

my daughter loves this, she's been using one for a few years. VG10 with a quality heat treat

https://knifewear.com/en-us/products/to ... toku-115mm



kiwi 172 is another good, safe option



they have a couple more inches of blade which makes certain tasks easier, but are very light and easy to handle. softer steel won't hold an edge like the tojiro but the geometry is extremely well done.

both will have enough knuckle clearance for a kid, and have blunted tips.

Nice one, thanks buddy! What other tools are commonly needed by a chef beyond the obvious knives and cutting board?

I bought one for my neice from happy homes I think it's good!

some others tools you may want:

microplane
metal tongs
cooking thermometer
food processor
measuring cups & spoons
aprons
manual egg blender (kids always think they're cool)
sharpening supplies
band-aids

vivi wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:33 pm

some others tools you may want:

microplane
metal tongs
cooking thermometer
food processor
measuring cups & spoons
aprons
manual egg blender (kids always think they're cool)
sharpening supplies
band-aids

Super helpful, cheers Vivi

A manual egg blender especially is right up his alley. Thus far we’ve picked up a set of knives, a wooden chopping board, a nice apron and a first aid kit. I’ll put the egg blender on the list as well as some stirring equipment, microplane and tongs. He has access to our kitchen diamond and ceramic sharpening equipment and our digital thermometers.

My final question is do you have any recommendations for what to store it all in? I’m torn between a tool box style conveyance and a knife roll (simply because I’m familiar with them both) but is there something that would be more suitable?

I use a green waxed canvas knife roll



I don't remember the exact one I ordered but these two are close:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167836773015?_ ... earch=true

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167645062359?_ ... earch=true

I'd recommend using blade guards, and the felt lined ones at that. they don't slide off as easily as the plain plastic kind.

I think it’s a misconception that smaller people need shorter blades. I would just start the kid on your regular chef knife.

JoviAl wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 10, 2025 7:57 am

My youngest son loves cooking and making dishes in the kitchen. As his 8th birthday is in a few weeks my wife and I have decided to put him a chef’s kit together

Get him "adult grade" tools that he won't outgrow. Get high quality stuff. The hope is that he'll continue to use it, and as his skills improve, he will not outgrow it.

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 8:55 pm

JoviAl wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 10, 2025 7:57 am

My youngest son loves cooking and making dishes in the kitchen. As his 8th birthday is in a few weeks my wife and I have decided to put him a chef’s kit together

Get him "adult grade" tools that he won't outgrow. Get high quality stuff. The hope is that he'll continue to use it, and as his skills improve, he will not outgrow it.

I think you and I both know this was a thinly veiled excuse to justify buying him some nice knives there’s a beautiful clad ZDP189 Japanese petty that would be perfect for his needs (and mine) at my local knife shop. It’s a steal at $299 on promo. It’s an almost suspicious confluence of interests.

vivi wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 7:35 pm

I use a green waxed canvas knife roll



I don't remember the exact one I ordered but these two are close:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167836773015?_ ... earch=true

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167645062359?_ ... earch=true

I'd recommend using blade guards, and the felt lined ones at that. they don't slide off as easily as the plain plastic kind.

Thanks man - I’ve been looking for some decent blade guards just generally. These look ideal for my kitchen and his kit both.

As for the knife roll, do you store your other bits and bobs in there too? I’m guessing you keep them separate in drawers or whatnot.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 8:34 pm

I think it’s a misconception that smaller people need shorter blades. I would just start the kid on your regular chef knife.

He currently uses all of our various chef’s knives on our magnetic rack, I’m just treating him to his own personal set that are his to look after and cherish the only one of ours I find he struggles to use with good control is the 10 inch blade chef’s knife and to a lesser degree my 8 inch boning out knife. He’s not a liability with them or anything, I guess they’re just a bit like me using a machete to cut food in relative scale - just a bit unwieldy.

JoviAl wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 9:19 pm

I think you and I both know this was a thinly veiled excuse to justify buying him some nice knives

Well... maybe. I'm just looking at it from my perspective. Some of my favorite garage tools and kitchen tools are the old ones. If you get the kid a "nice" knife, there's a better chance that he's still have it in fifty years when he's dicing tomatoes when mom and dad are coming over for dinner.

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 9:50 pm

JoviAl wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 9:19 pm

I think you and I both know this was a thinly veiled excuse to justify buying him some nice knives

Well... maybe. I'm just looking at it from my perspective. Some of my favorite garage tools and kitchen tools are the old ones. If you get the kid a "nice" knife, there's a better chance that he's still have it in fifty years when he's dicing tomatoes when mom and dad are coming over for dinner.

I was wryly joking alas there is no tone on here. I agree absolutely - I love a quality tool and always try to gift the best that I can afford.