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

[FrameyMcFrame]

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?

Grennie
Statistically, around a third of the children in the class will be 5.
Is 5 ok?
What about 4 11/12 ?

Still seems really young to me. Kids of this age still wave things about without thinking about it. If it was 1-1 supervision, fine.

If the age limit is 5, then what's the harm in saving the activity for Y1 where all the children are at least 5?

I'd want one-to-one supervision for my currently-5yo to be anywhere near a sparkler. Which would mean an awful lot of volunteer helpers and/or a lot of waiting around for the children between turns. He gets giddy anyway, but doubly/triply so when surrounded by excited classmates.

If the age limit is 5, then what's the harm in saving the activity for Y1 where all the children are at least 5?

It misses a year out where they could be safer at fireworks parties?

I would expect this activity to be undertaken in small, well supervised groups while the rest of the children get on with their usual activities.

I've not been to a private fireworks party for a long time (possibly ever) and at large organised events you typically aren't allowed sparklers anyway.

I'm actually quite at the fear behind it all. I mean most if these kids have been following rules and routines and plenty of instructions at pre-school or nursery for years.

Aside from those who's kids genuinely do struggle which is understandable, the amount of people who feel their children are incapable of following simple instructions us quite worrying. I'd be grateful school were trying to help that.

I suppose at least those parents who are too risk averse to allow their children to participate in this activity will also be too risk averse to let their children wander round unsupervised at a bonfire party.

Therefore the majority of the children who need this education most will get it.

Plus let's be honest, what we see them do is not what they do in school. Kids really do listen and line up, know simple things like how to carry scissors, and manage to not stab each Other with pencils and paintbrushes etc. School will know which children to watch extra closely.

Framey YANBU. They should create a power point presentation about sparklers and sit the children in a lecture theatre and teach them the theory about sparklers. They should all then use a software simulation of a sparkler and then sit a 1 hour exam. Only on passing the exam (pass mark 80%) should they then be allowed to look at a sparkler.

Or they could have some cosy circle time, with a video and a brief discussion about the ground rules, then taken outside, in small groups and several TAs, a bucket of water and plenty of gloves and all have a go, hand over hand, if necessary, for the impulsive ones.

For what it's worth, DS's birthday party involved toasting marshmallows on pointed sticks over an actual real fire. I'm not anxiously risk averse. I'm just very cautious around sparklers.

toasting marshmallows

I forgot that one!

I've done that with pre-schoolers too and let them get their own home made pizza out of the very hot oven.

Is that worse or better than playing with sparklers?

GOOD!!! Like one of our local headmasters who is teaching the children how to play conkers! Yey, these poor five and six year olds actually didn't know what a conker was, which is sad.

My 5 year old daughter used a penknife at forest school and knows how to light a fire (she is now 7).

Kids with fireworks! What a fab idea! I can find some Year Eights who really need a rocket up their arse!
DS and friends had sparklers at his party last year and loved it. DS has now been par ascending three times and out on a wake board a couple of times. Also quad biking, tree climbing, hi rope-ing and stunt scooting. He is 7.

Oh yes, DD (7) also toasts marshmallows, uses a peeler and sharp knives to prepare food. Plus walks over the field to her GP's house with her brother (9).

Elf and safety can go too far sometimes and strip our kids of the chance to enjoy themselves. No wonder they all sit indoors playing computer games and get to 20 without knowing how to cook their own dinner

I climbed trees, toasted marshmallows, held sparkles, handled knives and scissors , I remember making candles too with actual melted wax. that would never be allowed now :( we made shepherds pie in primary school, cooked the mince ourselves and everything.

I think the difference is that sparklers contain gunpowder and other chemicals whereas fire and melted marshmallows and warm hot chocolate and pizzas are only hot. Their danger is far more predictable.

Similarly, pointed sticks and kitchen knives (within reason - not my 9" diamond edged chef's knife) are safer than pointy sparklers because they're only pointy, and again predictably so.

Which is not to downplay burns/scalds and poking injuries. It's just that sparklers are hot, pointy and chemical all at once.

They are dangerous.

That's why children need to be taught to treat them with respect and understand the nature of the danger so they can risk assess for themselves.

IMO hot marshmallows are far more unpredictable and hard to handle than sparklers.

Fire and hot food is far more dangerous. Moultan jam or marshmallow can be lethal, and fire spits and hisses , and the wind can knock logs off etc.

It's just another thing kids need to be made aware of and it's easier and more fun ergo they respond more when it's the real deal.

My DS preschool did this about 5 years ago. So he must have been 3. Never occurred to me to object or refuse. They asked that enough parents came along that each child had either a parent or a teacher to supervise.

For me threads like this go well beyond the simple issue of 'Sparklers for young kids - yes or no'.

Of course a child can be hurt when handling sparklers/knives/hot marshmallows (evil feckers!) and of course I don't particularly want my child to get hurt. However, some of the most important lessons in life involve some injury and I'd rather they learnt 'fireworks are dangerous' from a sparkler and give them the respect they deserve than die at a public fireworks display when some nut thought it was a good idea to throw a seemingly empty petrol drum on the embers of the bonfire . Or lose a hands trying to relight an already lit rocket .
Both events I've had direct dealings with in RL.

@ powerpoint presentation.

people think hot food is more dangerous than a sparkler?

I give up.
A sparkler can reach up to 2000 degrees centigrade, that is around 20 times hotter than boiling water, 4 times as hot as a chip pan and hot enough to melt some metals. It's also hot enough to give you a 3rd degree burn.
But hey, a melted marshmallow is more dangerous :)

Well done the school- especially important when parents won't do these things themselves.

Forget temperatures. The most dangerous thing is kids not having any bloody idea how to behave around things or how to handle potential dangers etc. You may think you are protecting your child by not giving a sparkler but what happens next time he goes to his friends and gets given one as everyone else has one? Honestly I wouldn't have thought to not give a four year old one as I would assume every child over the age of three would know what to do with one.

It may seem early to some but it's not about ages it's about predicting what situations children may end up in dependant on where they go, and preparing them so they ARENT in danger.

I think that it is sad that school is often the first time children handle a sharp knife or boiling liquids.

Once they hit school they aren't "yours " anymore. They are little people who develope friendships and go parties, after school activities, friends houses where there are older and younger siblings. It's vital we teach them before they are out into situations where their lack of knowledge or experience gets them hurt.