..... to not want my son to be given sparklers?

[Fryib]

Hes 3.3 and we are going to a friends where the kids are going to play, do some craft stuff (think gluing, glitter, painting etc) and then friend mentioned shes bought some sparklers.

My two Dc re 3.3 and 15 months, so I said thanks but I dont want him having one. Her dcs are 3 and 15months and oldest will have one.

Am i pfb?

I think Mummy will be holding the sparklers dd 3.5

Hmm...they actually burn at very high temperatures and can cause severe injuries if mishandled.

lol @ Stable

Yar, but the cake was delish. I'm sure the sulphur or whatever it was added an extra depth to the flavour - backnotes of ginger and [insert name of poison]. It warmed it slightly too.

Who isn't allowing a nine year old to hold a sparkler?

I can't say that I care if a nine year old is 'deprived' of sparklers though.
The experience of holding a sparkler is hardly on a par with cooking,baking,making tea,crossing roads,or a child walking to school without an adult.
Sparklers aren't one of life's essentials.

Me - obviously a terrible parent!

To be honest, she's really not that interested in them anyway.

life is full of risks, just need to be sensible to minmilise them.

Terrible? That's putting it mildly,Framey.

I'm dialling the NSPCC as we speak.

DS had them from 2. If you hold it with them what can happen?

I will be holding it with DS (3.9), then straight into a bucket. Same as last year.

DH is a firefighter and will gladly recount a massive list of horror stories for anyone who needs convincing

I don't think a 2/3yr old is old enough to understand the safety instructions/rules they would be given - therefore not old enough to hold one imo. Not worth it.

Well you lot have just shamed me into buying a pack of Giant sparklers for DD...

She said 'oh I thought I wasn't allowed to have them!'
Funny how kids just accept draconian rulings without question!!

She then reminded me why I haven't let her have them in previous years.

When she was about 6 we went to a friends house on bonfire night and she had some indoor sparklers and DD had one.
As soon as it was lit she dropped it out of fright on to my friend's brand new laminate kitchen floor where it burnt a black hole...
I'd obviously suppressed that memory!!

We are getting some for our 3.2 DS but he can be VERY serious and VERY sensible - like he has been here before and an ancient old man, plus DH and I will be supervvising at all times. Also he won't be with other children getting excited - just with us, so not over hyped IYSWIM?

I guess it really does depend on your child

TBH I think it depends on the individual child. DS2 is 3.2yrs and last Saturday thoroughly enjoyed having sparklers at our halloween party. He also understood to put them in the water as soon as they were finished.

'MmeLindt Thu 04-Nov-10 23:19:27

It is really weird actually. 364 days of the year we warn out DC not to touch matches, and that the oven is burny burny.

And one day of the year we hand them a sparkler that is hot enough to melt gold and tell them to wave it about.
'

I agree with all of that.

No, YANBU or PFB. An article on tv the other day said sparklers shouldn't be given to children under 5. DS is 4.5 and he won't be going anywhere near them. Not worth the risk IMO. You can't control what decisions other parents make for their kids but you can for your own. If you don't want your DC to have sparklers, then they don't. Simples.

Ilythia - yeah but we also warn them about strangers offering gifts, but then tell them that one day a year, a strange old man will come down the chimney and leave a pile of presents for them. I think kids are able to understand that certain things are ok only under special circumstances.

Caz
That is interesting. I was wondering what firefighters would say.

"Ilythia - yeah but we also warn them about strangers offering gifts, but then tell them that one day a year, a strange old man will come down the chimney and leave a pile of presents for them. I think kids are able to understand that certain things are ok only under special circumstances."

Those aren't really fair comparisons, seeing as a sparkler is real and very hot, and Santa isn't.

Thanks everyone for ur replies.

We had a great evening. Kids made pretend fireworks from kitchen roll tubes, and played. We toasted marsh mallows, (which none of them liked after tasting them!)and when it came to the sparkles, I didn't let my ds hold one. One if the others did. She was fine. Although not really excited by it.
I bought some glow sticks and all the kids loved them, and it ment the younger ones could join in too.

My ds didn't miss out, and everyone was happy.

Hope everyone else has had a good nite too,

X

What Kaloki says, I tell little white lies, same as everyone, but when it comes to handing my children sparklers, which burn hotter than anything in my house could, when they are under the age advised by every safety organisation I am happy to err on the side of caution.

I am at people who let their children light candles and fireworks tbh, and I never though of my self as PFB or overprotective in any way.

My son had some when he was very young (4?) and the next day we discovered big burn marks in the gloves he had been made to wear, with the 'sparks'!!!