I have to confess that I stole my first pocketknife seventy-one years ago when I was eight. Told my parents I'd found it, but I boosted it from a dime store. Little two-blade jack.
I've carried at least one knife every day since that beginning of my life of crime.
As each of my son's three boys reached age eight I gave him a Schrade sheath knife, the drop-point version of the popular Sharpfinger--158OT, as I recall. He was allowed to learn to use it under very strict supervision from his dad until he could be trusted with it. I chose that design because it's very useful--I've owned several and used them for all kinds of chores--and its shape doesn't lend itself to throwing.
As each boy got a year or two older I gave him a Victorinox Pioneer, the current name for the model with checkered alox scales that actually was Swiss Army issue for years.