Firesetting (continued)

What to Do if Your Child Sets a Fire

If you discover your child setting a fire, it's important not to ignore it or assume that with punishment, your child has learned the lesson. Because even one small fire can have disastrous consequences, it's vital to stop the behavior immediately. Many kids who set fires do so repeatedly, especially if there is no intervention.

If your child is very young, prevent access to the tools that can start another fire. Keep matches, lighters, and any other sources of fire safely out of your child's reach and view.

Talk to your child about how dangerous fire is and how it can hurt your child and your family. If you haven't established any specific rules about fire, this is a good time to do so. Explain that, just like other things that are off-limits (like touching knives or the oven), matches and lighters are things only adults should use.

If your child is beyond the preschool years (around age 5 or older) and is setting fires, talk with your child's doctor, school counselor, or a mental health professional. You might also want to contact your local fire department — many have programs designed to teach kids who have set fires about the dangers and consequences of firesetting.

Preventing Kids From Starting Fires

• Keep your house safe. Never leave matches or lighters in a room where a child spends unsupervised time. If you have preschool-age kids, keep matches out of sight and locked up. Although many lighters are labeled child-resistant, none are fully childproof so make sure these are inaccessible too. And never leave a burning candle and a young child in the same room unattended.
• Teach kids about fire safety. Make sure kids understand — from a young age — that even a small fire can be dangerous and deadly. Keep small children far from the stove (at least 3 feet away) while it's on and explain why. Teach kids to tell you when they find matches or lighters or if they see other kids carrying them or playing with fire. Teach them what to do if their clothes catch fire (stop, drop, and roll) and what to do if there's a fire in your house.
• Set a good example. Use fire only in appropriate ways — to light candles or as a tool in your grill, camp, wood stove, or fireplace. Never amuse kids by playing with matches or lighters, or even burning candle wax. Show them how you always put out fires completely when you are through with them and that you never leave a fire burning when you're not there.
• Don't allow smoking in your home. It's more difficult to keep lighters and matches away from kids in homes where adults smoke. Children in these homes also see adults using fire repeatedly throughout the day, which can influence their behavior.

Parents play an important role in making kids aware of the dangers posed by fire and establishing ground rules about how to handle it. By keeping matches and lighters out of reach and staying alert to signs that a child may be playing with fire, you can help ensure that your entire family stays safe.