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Toddlers and Sparklers Don't Mix
July 1, 2009 at 12:13 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (10)
Photo by MattisMommy09
This came up recently at a friend's barbecue, and I'm sure with all the Fourth of July parties this weekend it's bound to be an issue again: Explaining to my 6 year old and 4 year old why they aren't allowed to handle sparklers, even though other kids are doing it.
It's too bad I have to deprive my little ones of this Americana experience that I remember so fondly. Then again, at their age I also shot guns, rode around unrestrained in the bed of my dad's pickup on major roads, and did all sorts of other things that makes me wonder how I ever survived childhood in the first place.
But that was then and this is now. Try explaining that to a toddler!
Just the other day, a mom in Newcomer's told of how she saw a grandma, who was stocking up outside a fireworks stand, hand a lit sparkler to a child who was barely toddling!
One mom responded that she still has a scar from a sparkler from when she was 9.
Another noted that they can reach about 1,200 degrees. Yikes!
Yet another mom said she is afraid to hold a sparkler herself, no way will she hand one to a toddler.
The National Council on Fireworks Safety says children under 12 should NEVER handle sparklers, which are often mistakenly considered a safe firework. They burn at very high temperatures and can easily ignite clothing. The sparks can cause burns to hands and exposed skin, and can even get in the eyes!
Poll
Question: Do you agree that toddlers are too young to hold sparklers, even with an adult standing right by?
Total Votes: 47
Do you let your toddlers hold sparklers? At what age should a child be allowed to handle the burning firework?
FILED UNDER: activities, play, safety, summer survival
Comments:
Give them a glow stick instead. They are safer and last longer.
If it might save them disfigurement, I'll skip family tradition.
last 4th we had toddlers galore...some smart guy {respectively called grampa by my son} thought it would b cool to give them sparklers..yeah..it was bad..walking was awful it was like tryin to dodge active land mines..not again will that happen..ever..
Well an 8 year old isn't a toddler. I would never give one to a toddler, but I would say around 7-8 years old I would, depending on the maturity of the child. I think we'll get snap pops this year, even though my three year old won't throw them hard enough to do anything.
we are actually going to do some sparklers tomorrow. i am planning on letting my 3 year old hold one while i help him. not planning on just giving it to him and turning my back or anything. we did sparklers as a kid and i think i was about 6 which would make my bro 4 years younger than me. my parents stayed close and explained safety and helped us hold them. going to try the same thing and have my husband capture the magic. happy 4th everyone!
I like your comment bbstra I think I'm gonna do that this year since the other kids are allowed to but according to my family I'm the party pooper so this will be a good comprise and I'll even bring enough for the others.
I let my kids use them.. we don't just use ANY sparklers though, we buy the larger ones with the longer wooden sticks (the metal ones heat up, not safe) and we don't let them hold them on their own, we light them away from the kids, then hold them ourselves and let the kids hold them with us - that way they don't get them too close to their bodies. I would not deprive my kids sparklers.. we just use them safely.
I let my 3 year old hold them but my hand is over hers guiding where the sparkler goes and anything will hit me before it could get to her. Sparklers are great fun so long as you use common sense.
considering that they can melt skin....no thanks.
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I let my 4 year old wear a glove and make them hold it out .See but not touche is my rule.It a family tradition and i dont want my kids going up with out that.Cause i didn't
jasperrosalina Jul. 1, 2009 at 4:09 PM