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A number of parent hikers say a knife also is a must, and it is indeed a handy tool in case of an emergency. With a multi-purpose tool, however, you won't really need a knife. Other parents like to carry a knife for whittling. That's not a great idea, though, as a knife can slip, leaving a gash in a palm or finger. In the past, use of a knife may have been one of those unofficial rites of passages into manhood, but today different attitudes prevail. Writes Scott O., of Portland, Maine: "I carry a very small pocketknife on my multipurpose tool and never make a show of it in front of my son, who is only a preschooler. Kids shouldn't play with them lest they injure themselves."
If you do carry a large knife, making sure it has a locking blade.
Read more about day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.