How young is too young?


pfspinelli

pfspinelli

Tracker
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
160
Likes
4
Location
Colorado
Specifically to teach kids how to build a fire?

any and all input is welcome and appreciated...

Also how do you keep them responsible?

Thanks!
 
My little boy watches me, hes 2.5 I just make certain he respects whats going on. As far as him doing it himself, I'll have to see how he is when hes older, whether hes responsible or more of a risk taker. Just depends on the kid.
I hunted along side of my Dad when I was 5, but he taught me early on to respect firearms. Like I said it depends on the kid, I dont recommend very many kids hunting or starting fires at age 5, but then again those are BIG decisions that you'll have to make and it's totally on you. Good luck and God Bless...
 
Probably should have said this first, the kids I am talking about are in 7th grade and they aren't mine. I also intend to ask their parents! (if they say no obviously no go.)

I am a small group leader for them and am thinking about teaching them how to use a firesteel...

So is this question moot?

Thanks again!
 
If they will actually pay attention to you and pay attention the fire instead of lighting it and then running around in circles, then they should be mature enough. The biggest thing is making sure they are attentive.
 
Theron714 said:
My little boy watches me, hes 2.5 I just make certain he respects whats going on. As far as him doing it himself, I'll have to see how he is when hes older, whether hes responsible or more of a risk taker. Just depends on the kid.
I hunted along side of my Dad when I was 5, but he taught me early on to respect firearms. Like I said it depends on the kid, I dont recommend very many kids hunting or starting fires at age 5, but then again those are BIG decisions that you'll have to make and it's totally on you. Good luck and God Bless...
Click to expand...

My 4 year old daughter falls under the risk taker side.... I tell her not to mess with my Good scissors she sneaks in my room and cuts off her hair... she is full of curiosity and for the most part I let her do her thing ...climb trees, play with bugs and get dirty..... she has seen my attempt at flintknapping and goes around banging rock together.... but I have no doubt in my mind that if I teach her to make fire she would burn the place down.... She is going to have to wait quite awhile before I teach firecraft to her.... things can go wrong way to quickly...
 
A great question, no simple answer.
Our kids are like everyone else. Each is a unique personality and their parents know them best, or should. Each child will be ready to learn different things, and be responsible for their actions, at different ages, there's no one size fits all.
I wouldn't start with fire until the child is older, say 7 or 8, but you'll know when they're ready.
 
Peacelovingirl said:
My 4 year old daughter falls under the risk taker side.... I tell her not to mess with my Good scissors she sneaks in my room and cuts off her hair... she is full of curiosity and for the most part I let her do her thing ...climb trees, play with bugs and get dirty..... she has seen my attempt at flintknapping and goes around banging rock together.... but I have no doubt in my mind that if I teach her to make fire she would burn the place down.... She is going to have to wait quite awhile before I teach firecraft to her.... things can go wrong way to quickly...
Click to expand...

Well said...
 
Peacelovingirl said:
My 4 year old daughter falls under the risk taker side.... I tell her not to mess with my Good scissors she sneaks in my room and cuts off her hair... she is full of curiosity and for the most part I let her do her thing ...climb trees, play with bugs and get dirty..... she has seen my attempt at flintknapping and goes around banging rock together.... but I have no doubt in my mind that if I teach her to make fire she would burn the place down.... She is going to have to wait quite awhile before I teach firecraft to her.... things can go wrong way to quickly...
Click to expand...

Sounds like my Sammy. Have to lock the closet where the "goodies" are kept. I think wife fixes at least a kid per month who chopped their own hair. Guess that's the hazard of being a stylist...those 8pm teary calls of "my kid just cut half her hair off! Can you help?"
Sammy does NOT get to play with fire for a while. She already has a couple nasty scars from playing with kitchen knives in the middle of the night. I think she finally learned on the last one. She's 5.

rabbithutch said:
Is 7th grade still considered a kid? That should be 12-13 years old, right? If you can't talk to a kid in an adult conversation at that age, don't teach them how to make a fire. OTH, they can go to just about any store and buy matches; so why is it question?

Or did I misread the age group?
Click to expand...

I think you hit it right on there: "If you can't talk to a kid in an adult conversation at that age, don't teach them how to make a fire". Should be old enough...responsible enough is the question and that's a personal call. I think if the OP is considering it, then they are likely fine to proceed.
 
My step dad wasn't very big on camping so my "learning fire" fire lesson was how to make fires in the shop stove. But I know it was before I was in kindergarten. On the other hand I think the parents knew I would be safe about it as not long before I got the lesson a huge fire swept through the area and burnt a lot of acres. Fire depts came out to make little islands around houses but for the most part the fire was left to burn itself out. So ya I guess I was scared a little at that age.
 
rabbithutch said:
Is 7th grade still considered a kid? That should be 12-13 years old, right? If you can't talk to a kid in an adult conversation at that age, don't teach them how to make a fire. OTH, they can go to just about any store and buy matches; so why is it question?

Or did I misread the age group?
Click to expand...

I was thinking about 11 myself... young enough that they still look to you for the teaching over their friends and they haven't reached that horrible ackward puberty stage that makes them so hard to handle (12 and 13)... but I have seen 7 and 8 year olds with enough maturity to help..... I think as a parent you know your child best... trust you instinct... If your child isn't ready you should be able to know
 
Last edited:
can he strike a match? if so, teach him the responsible way to start and put out a fire. just keep young kids away from blow torches
 
Well, my son set his room on fire when he was 3, so that is absolutely too young.

My dad let me burn leaves, use a double bit ax, gave me a pocket knife and had me mow the grass before I was 8 and I was using a big chainsaw with a bow when I was 9.

It just depends on the kid.
 
Regardless of age rember how nchanted most of us are with fire, we will be creating a life long intrest and addiction so teaching safe and respectful use of the magic flame is really important.
 
Depends on the child. I introduced my daughter to it when she was 6. I showed her the process of making tinder and a tinder ball, starting that and feeding it to build up a fire. By 8, she was very versed in the process and knew all sorts of tinder and kindling. She was very responsible, so I had no concern about her setting anything on fire. I had shown her how to setup a fire to not spread, and she understood it well. At 8, we started to let her lead and make the fires. I thought she was ready at 7, even though she wanted to make a fire, SHE said she was too young. She waited until she was 8 on her own. She is very good at it. (Yes, I have also been teaching her to use a knife, so she can make fire sticks, shavings, etc. anyone going into the bush should have these skills).
 
My little girl is 3 and my wife tells that's too young for fire starting and owning a knife. So somewhere over the age of three is all I have so far. Let me know if you figure this out :)
 
"The world it is a changin'.". No disrespect intended to the OP's question, but I'm sure there's some other bushgeezers (like me) that kinda shake our heads in wonder. When I was in 7th grade I was...nevermind. Yes, They're old enough to learn how to start a fire with parental permission.
 
My daughter is 7 and I have taught her how to use a fire steel and cotton balls. She has her own kit which I store in with my gear. We get it out every few weeks and she practices in the fireplace.
She loves to show friends and because I store everything in my gear I don't worry about her getting in trouble. Also, because she can come to me and get her "special" kit, she isn't out playing with lighters.

Hope this helps.
 
I put a knife in my son's hand before he was 6...

2009-12-23152634.jpg

At 7, he can find and collect his own tinder, responsibily locate and build a basic fire lay, and light said tinder with a fire steel or wooden match in dry conditions. Needless to say, he is very interested. He says he wants to be a forester... At 7 I knew I wanted to be a woodsman too... I am sure his interests will change and I will support whatever he wants. My only goal is that he and his sister are self-reliant and know how to be happy in life.

He has gotten better since this video below which was a test of sorts for him, hence the lack of talking and length ~ it's his video. He continues to work on his knife skills so he can process wood efficiently for a wet-weather fire, we are not there yet, but getting closer...

Introducing abokid ~ using a firesteel with natural tinder - YouTube
 
I think I was about 4 or 5 when my Father and Brother started teaching me the, "fire with one match" thing and I never burnt anything down...Of course I knew I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week if ever was, "irresponsible" with it, so that helped a lot. I was given my first knife when I was 4...Still remember it. May even have it somewhere.
 
Last edited:
I was around six when my dad started teaching me fire. I got my first "real" pocket knife when I was seven or so. I carried it to school too. Now I'd be considered a threat to homeland security
 
By the time I was 10, I could build a fire faster than my Dad. He taught me to respect guns, knives, and fire at a very young age. Familiarity kills curiosity. I never got in the (unlocked) gun cabinet, or burned down the house.

Its all in their upbringing. IMO
 
I say that as soon as you think their ready to, but you should do it with them the first few times. Kind of integrate it into them. At first you just show them the basics, overtime let them do more and more on their own, until their ready to show you they know how to build a fire safely without your guidance. Once they prove that then it's up to you if they can do it on their own or not.
 
I introduced my daughters' scout troop to lighting fires w/ fire steels a year and a half ago. The girls' ages ranged from 7 to 15 w/ the average age between 8 and 10. The one older Cadet, a sophomore, suggested that we collect up all of the girls' steels after they glued on the handles and tied a striker onto a lanyard. I disagreed w/ her. I believe that most kids will rise to the level of expectation. So I asked them the following question:

Me: "Do you girls want us to collect these or do you want to be responsible?"
Girls: "Responsible!"
Me: "OK. You are responsible for yourselves and for each other. If one person is caught using it when it is not appropriate, I will take them ALL back. Agreed?"
Girls: "Agreed."

We've had two camp outs over a year and a half and not one girl has been irresponsible. Also, no complaints from home, either.

Let the kids earn some responsibility while teaching them properly.
 
rabbithutch said:
Is 7th grade still considered a kid? That should be 12-13 years old, right? If you can't talk to a kid in an adult conversation at that age, don't teach them how to make a fire. OTH, they can go to just about any store and buy matches; so why is it question?

Or did I misread the age group?
Click to expand...

Yep the same age group that females two generations ago were married with kids.
They aren't yours so yes you have to ask their parents but I will say I taught mine to shoot at 5.
 
If the kids are in 7th grade they're old enough to have figured out the basics, strike a match or flick a bic and you've got fire. Get the parent's permission if you feel like it's necessary but if a kid that age is determined to burn down the forest, it won't be because you taught him how. Hopefully some decent instruction would prevent an accident, give the kids an opportunity to explore fire and learn respect for it in a controlled environment instead of leaving the kids to do it on their own in an un-controlled environment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top