Fireworks With Kids
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Doing fireworks with your kids can be a lot of fun, but also presents a bit of danger as well. Be prepared and stay safe while doing fireworks at home.
It’s that time of year where fireworks are popular in the US. On and around the 4th of July, fireworks are an exciting event for most families to either enjoy watching or setting off on their own at home. If you’re planning to take part in this tradition with your kids, please stay safe.
Every year, thousands of people are injured from fireworks. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, just under 10,000 were injured in 2018. You can see reports for previous years as well. Unfortunately, people are a bit careless, even when it comes to fireworks. They simply don’t respect the danger that is involved with them.
That being said, fireworks are always a great highlight for millions of Americans. You can safely participate while enjoying this tradition. In order to keep your kids safe, below are a few ideas on how to have fun and stay safe. Below setting off any fireworks, make sure you’re following any local regulations in relation to those fireworks - getting cited for doing something illegal isn’t really an ideal way to spend time with your family.
Use only the safest fireworks
If you’re really concerned, your best option may be to simply use the safest fireworks only. While there’s still a chance that your children can get hurt with these, it’s generally not because of the firework itself - rather it’s because they hurt themselves by poking something in their eye or otherwise. If they do manage to injure themselves, it will be a minor injury as these fireworks aren’t big enough to cause huge damage.
Three of the main fireworks that we’ve done in the past that our kids have enjoyed that we consider safe: sparklers, ground poppers, and party poppers. Sparklers are self explanatory. Some sparklers are huge, and a little more dangerous than others - the smaller you go, the safer. Ground poppers are little round balls that you throw at the ground and they pop - don’t eat them. Party poppers are not technically fireworks, but they use a firing mechanism and often have fireworks in them. They’re meant for parties and throw confetti all over.
There are plenty of other fairly safe fireworks that aren’t as dangerous. Check out your local firework dealer to see what they have on hand, and what they can recommend. Even just a few fireworks for kids can be a great time.
Keep kids far away from fireworks
If you’re going to set off bigger fireworks, then you’ll want to keep your kids away from them. Many fireworks can do serious damage, and having kids located too close is a recipe for disaster.
The younger your kids are, the harder it will be for them to understand what the rules are. If you need to rope off the area, or otherwise, make sure you do so. Older kids need to also understand the consequences if they get too close. You know your child best, but don’t let them set off the fireworks themselves until they’re of an age that they can responsibly do so - my 7 year old will likely want to this year, but won’t be allowed to simply because he’s still a bit too mischievous.
Keep the fireworks in the same location, and make sure your kids stay back and understand they’re not allowed in the area. They can watch from a distance and enjoy watching, but fireworks can be unpredictable at times. If something falls over or moves further than it normally would, you want to keep them safe.
Have plenty of water close by your fireworks
Keeping a few buckets of water or having a hose close by to where you’ll be setting off fireworks should be a must. If something gets a little out of control, you’ll want them close by. Beyond that, you should be putting older fireworks in water so that they don’t accidentally start a fire.
We like to use a hose to put on fireworks after they’ve gone off and we let them sit for a few minutes. It allows us to be sure the fire is out without having to actually touch the firework itself. Obviously, this may not be possible depending on where you’re setting off fireworks. The goal is to keep yourself and the environment safe.
Conclusion
Doing fireworks with your family can be a lot of fun, but make sure you take proper precautions. Getting injured or starting a fire would make for a miserable holiday.
