Lighting fires at 4?

[Paperdolly]

My GD’s nursery has been teaching my 4 year old how to light fires with a metal implement to make sparks. AIBU to think this is not an appropriate age for fire starting 😱

My DH teaches his Beavers firefighting from age 6 when they can start. Fire safety is absolutely the first lesson and there is a zero tolerance attitude to messing about. It’s extremely popular, his Beaver group is massively oversubscribed.

As long as it’s properly done and well supervised it’s a nonissue.

Fire lighting ^^ 😂

I think it is a wonderful life skill if it is taught safely.

My son's pre school taught him at 4. All well supervised. I keep matches when he can't get them...he's not a firestarter...yet

From a risk assessment point of view the striking of flints is nowhere near as risky as the use of hatchets and they let nursery kids use those! It's a really engaging activity and quite safe as long as it is taught and supervised properly.
Forest schools are fab!

Normal to learn this skill in Scandinavian schools at this age.

Fuck me , that’s bonkers! Is this some trendy new teaching theory??

There are lots of very useful things to teach a 4yr old but starting fires comes right down at the bottom of the last page of the list. 🤦🏻‍♀️

That sounds wonderful! Lucky child.

That sounds great fun. I've been showing my kids since I've taken them camping one of them 11 weeks but it was a very stable not too hot not too cold weekend, though I doubt she paid attention then. Another 5 -10 years and they'll be pitching tents and lighting fires whilst you sit down with a cold drink

We do this with beavers who are 5 3/4 plus

Totally appropriate and normal in many settings. Even DD's city centre nursery did this. It's not just for forest schools.

My two have been in wood school all week as its the holidays and have done this since reception age. So they've come home with the usual range of sharpened sticks and ds (10) was allowed to build and start the fire as they are the oldest and most experienced at it.

I don't see any problem with it. It's not like they are telling them to go play with matches. They are using sparks. Your dc won't have access to this normally will they?

Absolutely fine. It’s part of a forest school approach I would expect. They use steels to light tiny fires, they’re taught how to do it and supervised throughout. It helps children respect dangerous aspects of life (fire/sharp tools) and shows them how to navigate them safely - supported risks. Not to mention it’s advantageous for hand eye coordination, listening and communications skills, following instructions etc. It’s a brilliant way for kids to learn and thankfully much more widely accepted than it used to be. Scandinavian countries have been teaching their kids like this for 100s years.

I feel more reassured now that it’s OK. Thanks all for your responses. 👍🏻

Why would you trust strangers on the internet over the people who have been employed and entrusted to care for your GC. Why not raise your concerns with them and they'll explain their reasoning and safety procedures. Here the staff have to have specific fire training.

Presumably your DD / DS and their partner knew what the nursery would offer when they signed their DD up. Have you expressed your concerns to them so they can reassure you that they've made an appropriate childcare choice?

Sounds fine as long as it's safe and controlled.