I use edge guards. Messermeister, among others, make them. They're kept only with other knives and cutting tools, so there's no reason to put one's hand in except to pick up a knife. The hard part usually isn't keeping kids from touching knives, but keeping them from accidentally touching knives. I worry about your hands, reaching into a box.

The knife magnet in a cupboard has shown up here a few times. It's very clever for keeping a blade quick to hand, but how is it going to keep your clever climber opener away. Better to tell him, graphically, how dangerous knives are, tell him he can't have them. If he wants to play "food" give him a plastic knife. If he wants to actually cut stuff, try him on velcro play food. If he wants to really cut things, give him a pair of baby scissors and let him chip corners off of a sheet of paper with them.

Was it mine? This is an old pic. I'd like to say that I've placed veneer on the cut plywood edges of the box, but I haven't.

We built ours out of a 3" filler for the front, cherry plywood for the back, and 3 overtravel drawer slides. We call it our Mr. & Mrs. Smith drawer.

One of the knocks against the magnet strips is that you can dull your blades if you twist them against their edge when pulling them off. I just make sure and twist them the other way.

Thanks for that!
Laxsupermom it wasn't your photo I saw but that is a perfect example! Thanks for posting the photo again. Mr. And Mrs. Smith...I like it! If I can fit one in it'll certainly make my favorite-things-about-my-kitchen list. If not I'll look for some blade guards. Either way I fully intend to educate my children that my knives are not for them.
Thanks again!

Just use really good magnets. Your kid will be 6 before he can get these off:

Okay, LAXmom's looks MUCH better but to be fair, I haven't remodeled yet. :) I like my knives in a drawer and there are kid-proofing devices that can be used on drawers.

Any strong magnetic knife strip should do as long as it can fit in one of your upper cabinets. They are designed for each attachment to a wall and a cabinet wall will do just as nicely. Consider getting several strips and installing them one atop the other. This will reduce the chance of a knife becoming inadvertently dislodged. At the same time, you do want to try and explain to your child about the danger of knives. Keep in mind that even if you succeed in keeping the knives in your kitchen safely out of reach, another kitchen may be less child-friendly. Better to cover all your bases.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.BestKitchenGuide.com

fori, I nearly spewed my drink out my nose. Too funny!

Whatever solution you come up with now, be sure that it functions well for adult and older kids, too, or can be converted later. The toddler years are over before you know it.

One of my kids, for example, is now a very short 8-year-old who is gleefully learning to cook. I'm glad our knives are in a drawer where he can reach them easily, without climbing on a stool to reach an upper cabinet to retrieve them.

Wishing you the best of luck with childproofing and education for your adventurous, clever young one!

I was pretty smug with my pan and knife storage until I needed that skillet last night. Those rare earth magnets will release a knife with a proper twist but picking them off the skillet isn't as simple...