Obviously many Mudcat Men have figured out that cooking is a socially acceptable way to play with knives and fire. (Thanks, gnu, I'll be adding "their food" to the list as well.)
Morticia, Mark Twain once advised that boys be placed in a barrel from the ages of seven I think) through twelve, receiving food, etc. through the bung hole. When he was asked what should be done when the lads reached the age of twelve, he replied, "Put in the bung, of course."