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Original poster

Reception children being taught how to use sparklers safely. WITH REAL SPARKELERS

187 replies

FrameyMcFrame · 20/10/2013 19:52

Apparently they're going to be practising name writing and letter formation with sparklers!?!?
Isn't that just asking for trouble?
A permission slip has come home, I really don't want my 4 year old using a sparkler. So I won't be giving permission, but am I being unreasonable to think that it's an insane idea?

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BeQuicksieorBeDead · 20/10/2013 23:19

Hats off to the reception teacher...take it from me, the risk assessment for this would have been many pages and I suspect many other members of staff would have said dont bother, it isn't worth the hassle.

If it prevents one firework related accident in the future, then that teacher has done a brilliant thing.

thereinmadnesslies · 20/10/2013 23:21

DS1 did this in yr 1. I was a bit cynical, but no one got burnt and DS enjoyed it.

BackforGood · 20/10/2013 23:31

Sounds like a FAB school - teaching children how to do things safely, in a 'real' rather than theoretical way.
Yup, YABU to think it's insane - it sounds a great idea to me.

ShoeLaRue · 21/10/2013 00:01

Goldmandra I want to come and live with you!!

ShoeLaRue · 21/10/2013 00:04

Ps, I'm another who loves helping my DC learn to do potentially dangerous things safely. DS1 has been doing forest school sessions since he was just under two (now nearly three) and has handled a peeler, knife and hacksaw under close supervision. He's also learning to stay outside the fire circle. Such useful lessons in learning to manage risk, and fun too.

Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 21/10/2013 00:12

The fact is the official advice is no to under 5s, the packets the sparklers come in have to have that advice printed on them by law. But the school thinks they know better and it's ok not to listen to that advice while looking after other people's children. Not a good precedent to set in my opinion.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 21/10/2013 00:27

I also agree with helping my children learn to do potentially dangerous things safely. But I'd feel dubious cracking open a pack of fireworks that specifically say not for under 5s and handing them out to a load of 4 year olds if I was in charge of keeping them safe and they were not my children.

OP posts:
Kyrptonite · 21/10/2013 01:04

It's stage not age. They're still under the EYFS so I imagine that more support will be given to those they think may struggle with the idea that the thing just lit on fire may be hot. You could have a 4 year old who understands straight away and a 5 year old who decides to touch the sparkly end. Age is irrelevant really.

OutragedFromLeeds · 21/10/2013 01:36

Framey I think you need to get past the age thing. It's advice, general guidance. Children develop differently. Some children will be fine, others won't. That's why the school have done absolutely the right thing and sent a letter home. The children who are not ready (as judged by their parents) will not take part.

Of my DC's, DC1 and DC3 would have absolutely been able to do this in reception. Both sensible, both danger aware, both able to follow instructions etc.

DC2 is in a world of his own a fair amount of the time. He wouldn't have been able to do this in reception unless he had one-on-one help. He lacks danger awareness, struggles to concentrate and remember instructions and is prone to excited silliness!

He's still the one that would need watching closely with sparklers and they're all over 5 now. It's about much more than age.

Cat98 · 21/10/2013 07:35

Great idea, I'd be happy for my 5 yo to participate.

Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 21/10/2013 08:36

I think the age this is important.
If something was to go wrong and a child was burnt people would point out that they're not supposed to be used for under 5s. Sticking by the guidelines in school for products as dangerous as these is just common sense in my opinion.
Obviously people give sparklers to younger children at home, under close supervision but it's different at school in many ways.
I also wonder if their insurance covers this activity!

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 21/10/2013 09:03

Framey, to me it becomes more and more clear from your posts that you have a problem with the school's policies and practices and the sparkler issue is simply a symptom of a bigger problem.

You can of course ask about the insurance issue and see the risk assessment. I suspect you will remain unhappy with this idea of sparklers for reception class children, so don't consent. Done.

Personally, as I've said upthread, I think the risks are small and sparklers are one of the joys of childhood, so I would allow it (and in fact I'd congratulate the school on their idea).

We all as parents try to do the best we can for our children and have different levels of risk that we are comfortable with. I don't think that you can achieve a consensus here.

SoupDragon · 21/10/2013 09:06

Why ask if you are being unreasonable when you clearly think you're not?

SoupDragon · 21/10/2013 09:07

I am from the generation before Health and Safety Gorn Mad. My parents taught us how to use sparklers safely when we were very small.

They haven't suddenly got more dangerous over the years, people have just got more stupid and unable to use their common sense. This is only going to get worse.

BackforGood · 21/10/2013 09:15

I was just thinking that, Soup

OP - AIBU
90% of posters - Yes
OP - no I'm not

I sometimes think there should be two sections in AIBU - those who actually want to know what others would do, and those who are so convinced they are right, it wouldn't matter if the whole world held the opposite view, they'd still know they were right.

Goldmandra · 21/10/2013 09:24

I sometimes think there should be two sections in AIBU - those who actually want to know what others would do, and those who are so convinced they are right

I agree

We need a new section called "I AM NOT BEING UNREASONABLE Angry"

CecilyP · 21/10/2013 09:36

Well I am going to change the proportions slightly because I agree with OP. This would worry me. The fact that they have totally ignored the guidelines (which give 5 as a minimum age - not a compulsory age) doesn't bode well and doesn't suggest that they have done any sort of risk assessment. I don't think the activity has been thought through at all; it would have to be dark for them to see their names, and if they are concentrating on writing their names, their focus will not be so much on safety. And unless the school is very well staffed, I can't see how they can be adequately supervised.

The idea that it is somehow akin to making toast in a toaster is, frankly, ludicrous.

SkiSchoolRun · 21/10/2013 09:38

Nooooooo way! I am not in the slightest bit risk adverse with physical activity but my 4.5 yo would not be allowed to have sparklers. Does no one remember the advert from the 80s. I'm still scared of them now!

comewinewithmoi · 21/10/2013 09:42

Nope I wouldn't giver permission.

Katnisscupcake · 21/10/2013 09:52

Totally agree with Pacific. I'm sure a lot of parents are already finding that their DCs are taking a lot more notice of what teachers say in Reception than they may do in the home environment. So absolutely make a 'lesson' out of using sparklers so they fully see the dangers properly. How many of us will think of spelling out ALL the risks when we're rushing out the door on Bonfire night to play.

I think it's a great idea seriously thinks about recommending it to DD's HT Smile

DeWe · 21/10/2013 10:04

Sounds a brilliant idea. I will pass it onto our infant school. They'll love it. Grin Thank you.

We used to have them in infants at school. The policeman would come in and give his safety talk (which always stared with him saying "don't stick fireworks up your nose" because he said it always got a good laugh that. By year 6 our laugh was getting very thin Grin)
Then we'd go outside and watch a few fireworks the teachers set off. Then we all got a sparkler at once. That's 90+ infants all waving a sparkler at once. No one got injured and it was great fun. They had a big bowl of water to put the sparklers in afterwards to cool them down and make sure none got let out.
I don't think we even were asked to wear gloves. I know one year I didn't, and can remember the prickly feeling as the sparkler came down the stick.

Delayingtactic · 21/10/2013 10:18

I think it's an excellent idea. Your dc teacher must be very keen to go through all that paperwork to give this opportunity to the children in her class. Of which there will be reams and reams.

Don't sign the consent form then. But don't hoik your judgey pants up and go in blazing and "won't someone think of the children?" Don't try and make that decision for other parents - you don't want your child doing it, fine. Other parents will be happy to let their children do it, that's their choice. Huff in the distance.

Michaelahpurple · 21/10/2013 10:23

The thought of waiting until year 3 to hold a sparkler is hilarious !

QuenellefireAndDamnation · 21/10/2013 10:23

Many of the Reception children will be 5 or approaching 5 anyway. Should they wait a year to teach a whole yeargroup something useful because some of the children are a few months short of the recommended age?

If your child is 11 months short of their 5th birthday and/or you believe they are too young to be exposed to this risk, don't sign the consent form. My boy is 5 next June and I believe he could be trusted in this lesson. I wish his school would do it.

Sidge · 21/10/2013 10:26

I think it would be a great experience. If the school are doing a proper risk assessment (which it sounds like they are) then I am sure it would be great fun.

I doubt they're going to hand 30 4 and 5 year olds a lit sparkler and stand back Hmm; they'll probably do it in very small groups and have a bucket of water to hand to put the spent sparklers in.

When my DD1 was in Y1 they did "The Great Fire of London" as a theme and we were asked to consent to them talking part in an activity where the Site Manager lit a fire in a drum behind a tape and the children lined up, filed past and chucked their bucket of water towards the fire. They were miles away and their water went nowhere near the fire but they loved it! They also had the Fire Brigade there that day to incorporate fire safety into the lesson and then learn how fires are put out and what to do in an emergency. So history, physics, personal safety and citizenship all in one day - fabulous.