This young boy in the Yao village of Jhong Xa (Muang Sing District) is a classic example of different attitudes towards child development and child protection, compared to many Western countries.
I would guess the boy is no more then five, maybe less. He is practising cutting skewers with a probably very sharp knife. Handling sharp knives is a skill most Lao will learn from a young age. In the West, a parent would probably face investigation from child protection authorities for letting their child put itself in danger.
In Luang Prabang a few years back I saw three children, no older then 4, building a little fire on the side of the street. They knew how to do it, and none of the adult passersby gave them a glance.