4Th of July! - Austin,TX

Wow I must not be a cautious mom... I let my 4 year old use sparklers... granted he sits in my lap so I can have my eye on him... he LOVES it!

My son is 7 and he is still afraid to hold a sparkler! He is the original Mr. Cautious though. Snaps are better!

Age 2? Absolutely not. I would never give a sparkler to a toddler or a preschooler. Elementary aged children need to be heavily supervised while using them.

The sparkler is the silent danger. Sparklers do not blow up and they do not have trajectory like other fireworks... However, what they do have is heat. A typical sparkler can burn at temperatures up to 1,800 degrees. At this temperature even gold melts so imagine the close range effects on your skin and eyes.

It is estimated that 57 percent of the firework-related injuries suffered by children under the age of 5 are caused by sparklers. Use with extreme caution with young children.

Yes, but be on top of them and have sand in a bucket for them to dispose of the sparklers w/o burning anyone. It's not advisable for the 2 year old, however! I have done a sparkler with my two year old but I held it and let her "assist" me. I would normally not have let her do even that but she wanted to do what the big kids were doing. She got her fill in a matter of seconds and it was over with. Two year olds are just so unpredictable. As for the 7-10 year olds, give them specific instructions and keep all kids away from each other while using them (and long hair in a pony tail). It should be fine. This is only my opinion but I'm not one of your overly protective parents. I like my kids to live a little; within reason, of course. I remember using sparklers as a young child and my parents just made us stay away from others and constantly reminded us that these things were as hot as can be.

Yes but, with caution. The metal wires that the sparkly stuff is adhered to will get very hot. If you touch it, step on it, etc. it will burn badly. Younger ones need to only handle them with an adult. Older children need to understand the dangers and handle them with extreme caution. None of the children need to be let loose without adult supervision.

My mom always gets out a bucket with sand to put the metal sticks in when they are done sparkling.

Sure! Why not, it's 4th of July! Just supervise the littlest ones. Any child 4 or 5 and up isn't going to hurt themselves with a sparkler.

When my siblings and I were younger, we were allowed to use Sparklers, and we loved them. However, when I was in college my 2-year-old cousin was burned by a Sparkler that I was holding. She came up behind me and grabbed so fast I had no idea what was coming. The Sparkler was no longer burning, but it WAS still very hot! Her little hand blistered, and I've never used another Sparkler. There were at least 6-8 adults present; everyone was being cautious. Yet a toddler was still burned.

That being said, my children are 8-1/2 and 5 this summer. I have relented (very reluctantly) and have agreed to allow Sparklers this July 4th. But with very close supervision: one parent with each child.

I think any child under 5 is a no, regardless of how closely supervised. School-aged children should be okay with close supervision IF they are responsible children. If they are prone to impulsivity, then I would say they are a no as well. It's just too risky.

Best wishes on making the right decision for your family!

You are so lucky (!!!!) to live in Texas where they have reasonable, common sense fireworks rules/laws. The California laws are moronic. The legislators here are so big brotherish its ridiculous. Texas has fewer fireworks accidents than California because in California fireworks any more "exciting" than wooden matches are banned/illegal. People doing illegal fireworks get into lots of accidents.

My family lived in Arkansas for 18 years. I would give sparklers to my kids under 6, but only if I held their hand or had my hand so close I could avert disaster before it happened. You, as a mom, can tell how well coordinated and obedient your little ones are. I had a no tolerance policy with my kids with fireworks regarding fooling around. I told them fireworks were dangerous and only for adults, but if they could act like adults I would make an exception for them.

We did fireworks for 17 years with up to 8 kids and never had even one accident. No burns or fires or anything. I was always extremely careful and very protective of my kids. And we had lots of fun. Our fireworks "display" would last for two to three hours.

Good luck to you and yours. Hope you have lots of fun.

I dont wrap my kid in a bubble!!! Go for it!!!!

:) Just watch 'em!!!! Thats all you can do....

I agree with the mom about a flashlight. We bought one that had red, white, and blue sparkly lights when it came on. Our youngest at the time thought it was cool, because he could take it in the house when the fireworks ran out. You can buy them at grocery stores, dollar stores, Wal-Mart, and maybe even Target. Good luck!!

Shoes, not flip flops either. The little bits that fall to the ground are still enough heat in them to make little blisters on the bottom of feet. 2-4 I would be hands on eyes glued. I wouldnt let anyone out side to play with them unless a couple of adults were with them. Better safe than sorry.

I am old school- I say yes, with caution.

NO! They are still fire and can burn. Get the longer ones and stick them in the ground.

NO why not just give them a blow torch it is just about as safe
If you hold it away from them that is one thing but do not let them near it. Also keep an empty coffee can filled with water close by so the used one's can go in it, They are still hot and can cause blisters.

Well, sparklers make me a little nervous too. But, my kids love those little things that you throw on the ground and they make that loud pop noise. They come in a little box....I can't remember what they're called. My kids are 6 and 4. However, this year, I found the BEST things at Dollar Tree of all places!! They are glow sticks, but they're in the shape of a star magic wand, or a pitchfork, or a light saber sword thing.... My kids will LOVE those! And they were super cheap. =0) Maybe you can go get lots of those in all the different shapes and colors for the smaller children. Like I said, I found ours at Dollar Tree just this past Saturday. I'm sure stores like Party City will have them too. Have fun!

Would you give these same children a lighted match? We always think of holidays as special occasions that are exempt from our usual attitude towards safety or rules, etc. but the reality is that my 2 year old has no idea what the 4th of July is or how it is different from any other "party"! So, if you give them this "firey-thing" to hold at this party what is the difference at the next Birthday party? Can they "play with" the candles from the Birthday cake after you light them? The older kids are old enough to understand but the younger ones don't really know the difference!

Good luck.
blessings,
Stacy

They make me a nervous wreck!!

Last year, we were with some family and friends, and my son who was 3 1/2, and his friend of the same age, were given sparklers by a family member. Hesitantly, I let him hold it, but I had my hand on it the whole time. I'd never have bought them for him myself, and still won't. They are very dangerous and just not necessary.

NO WAY. Just my opinion.

L.

Not the 2 year old (give that child a small flashlight to wave around) but a 4 year old and older that follows directions should be fine..

If the child does not follow the directions they are banned from spraklers for the rest of the evening.. Give them the rules before you start.. Have them repeat the rules..

Purchase the ones with the longer handles.

We alaways had fireworks out at Lake Travis. Never had a problem.
Some kids love them and others are just fine with a popcicle watching, instead of handling them.. ..