RESPECT AND REVERANCE: Fire Safety for Kids
Can kids and fire mix?
If the words ‘fire’, ‘child’ and ‘play’ in the same sentence make you nervous, then this one’s for you.
Introducing fire to children can be a nerve-wracking experience as a parent, so we’ve put together some tips to help it feel a little less stressful.
FIRE AND RISKY PLAY
Fire falls into the six categories of risky play set forth by Sandseter (2007) as one of the ‘dangerous elements’.
Fire is a naturally occurring phenomenon in our environment and has played a significant role in our evolution as a species.
It is believed that humans first encountered fire approximately 1.5 million years ago through random, opportunistic encounters.
Fire was likely used for multiple purposes, such as providing light and warmth at night, scaring away dangerous animals, and repelling insects with smoke.
The unique skill of being able to control and utilise fire was a remarkable achievement that was exclusive to humans.
Furthermore, Richard Wrangham, a primatologist from Britain, suggests that cooking food with fire may have contributed to the evolution and development of the human brain.
If we read between the lines here, it’s probably safe to say that humans mastered fire by playing with fire.
Risky play is in our nature, we learn by being allowed to experiment and push boundaries.
We have an undeniable connection with fire, so how can we introduce children to fire in a responsible way?
REVERANCE AND RESPECT
First off, we can start by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
And as such, we approach it with reverence and respect, the same way we might approach using a sharp knife. It has a purpose, and it’s empowering to be able to use it, but abuse it and there’s a risk of getting hurt, or worse.
Particularly with young children, a great way to teach reverence and respect is with candles. Children usually associate candles with birthdays and celebrations, and usually signify a special occasion.
Light a candle and gather around it. Notice how it creates a homely, comforting atmosphere. Notice how it brings light to a dark space. Watch how beautiful it is as it dances and flickers. Observe how the solid wax turns into a hot liquid.
Have they seen fireworks before, or maybe even a bushfire? Talk to children about how fire makes them feel and emphasise its beauty and the awe it provokes in them.
Awe is defined as “a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder”.
It’s healthy to be fearful of fire. It’s powerful, it can injure us, and it can easily get out of control.
Fear is an evolutionary response to dangers in our environment, and it’s important that we respond appropriately if we’re in a dangerous situation.
Another way we can teach children reverence and respect is by modelling it ourselves. Kneeling to tend to the fire, embodying reverence when observing a candle, talking to children about what goes into the campfire and what doesn’t, are just some of the ways we can pass these values on to children.
EDUCATION AND SUPERVISION
Establishing reverence and respect as values around fire opens the door to learning more about how to manage fire safely.
Particularly in the early stages of introducing children to fire, it’s important to emphasise that fires always need to be supervised by an adult, and always need to be contained.
Unfortunately, things can go wrong when children decide to take fire into their own hands. Pre-schoolers and kindergarteners are most likely to start house fires, and most likely to die in them.
It’s up to you to decide to what extent you want to talk about the risks of house fires and bushfires with your children. But for children to be safe in risky situations, they need to understand the consequences of the activities involved.
As we’ve said before, keeping kids away from risk is not the same as keeping kids safe. The best thing we can do to prevent injuries is build up their knowledge, skills and risk awareness so that they can make better choices. This is important with all types of risky play, but especially with fire.
We hope this helps you feel better equipped to introduce fire to your children. Without fire, we would not be who we are today. And we wouldn’t have toasted marshmallows!
If you need a little encouragement and support on your journey with risky play, book into one of our programs and join a community of like-minded families putting the dirt back into childhood. Spaces are available in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast here https://www.wildlingsforestschool.com/bookings.
Written by Ellen Nesbitt. Ellen is a nature play advocate and creative writer with a passion for helping families connect with the outdoors. She is dedicated to exploring ways to nurture children's creativity, independence, wellbeing and love for nature.