montessori teaches 3 year olds how to properly handle sharp knives by letting them cut the fruits for snack breaks. they also don't use safety scissors but learn how to use real scissors.

a lot of danger is removed by teaching kids how to properly use tools. my son learned to cook at age 8 or 9. yes, he gets burned sometimes, but he knows how to properly use a gas stove and he has learned to be careful with it because he had the opportunity to use it frequently and become familiar with it. he can cook a meal unsupervised, and i guess that will boost his confidence as he tries more complex recipes.