We’ve practiced kitchen knife skills a couple of times here at WonderWild. Each child has their own cutting board and a paring knife. They practice chopping fruits, veggies, cheese, and dried meats. This activity brings together a wonderful mix of fun and learning.
It’s an exciting combination of risk and trust. The kids know there’s some danger involved, and they know they’re being trusted to be careful and responsible. They take it very seriously!
Art projects emerge when some kids focus more on color, texture, and patterns with their cut pieces.
There’s a bit of science mixed in. One time we dove into a deep discussion on the difference between fruits and vegetables. We talked about all the different parts of plants that we eat – roots, leaves, bulbs, seed pods.
And all along the way, we’re taking delicious nibbles.
Of course, every time we start with safety. We have a collaborative conversation about the safety rules we should follow. I put everyone’s ideas into simple, easy to remember phrases and write them on the board.
- Don’t touch the sharp parts
- Keep the knife down near the table.
- Move the knife slowly.
- Point the knife away from your body.
Turns out that last rule is pretty important…
I was recently on a camping trip, and when I found the breakfast sausage patties frozen together I tried to pry them apart with a steak knife.
The knife slipped, and I cut my finger. After four stitches in the ER and an orthopedic referral I learned that I’d severed a nerve and a tendon. I needed surgery.
A week later they opened my whole finger up since the tendon had retracted back towards my palm. They reconnected my tendon and nerve (using cadaver tissue!) and stitched me back up, giving me a gnarly-looking Frankenstein finger. Then I landed back in the ER with a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic.
If only I’d had a grownup standing nearby to remind me of the knife safety rules!
WonderWild is a small operation right now. It’s just me and one assistant. Due to the on-going systemic effects from the allergic reaction, I had to make the difficult call to put classes on hold for a few weeks. It was a heartbreaking decision to make, but all our enrolled families have been incredibly understanding and supportive through all of this.
It’s been three weeks since the injury and 10 days since the last ER visit. The allergy effects are becoming manageable, and I’ve started the long road of physical therapy for my finger. I’m still disappointed about having to pause classes, and I miss the kids terribly! But, I can see the road towards healing, and I’m starting to feel more positive.
Classes resume on July 20th, and in the meantime, I have one very big task I’m focused on – hiring more staff! Life always involves unexpected obstacles, and WonderWild will be more resilient when there are more grownups to share the responsibilities.
I’d love to say this experience taught me a lesson, but…. I already knew that one! I’ve even written it on the board for the kids here at WonderWild! And they all followed it very well! But, hey, one of the other things I say here a lot is “Everyone makes mistakes,” and that goes for me, too.