If the child is punished, will he stop the firesetting behavior?
Punishment may force the child to hide while playing with fire. It is important to educate the child on the hazards of fire setting rather than punish them. Do You Know A Child Who Is Curious About Fire? 300 children each year die in youth related fires. Two of every fire deaths of preschool-aged children in home fires occurs between 8 am – 4 pm Death by fire is the leading cause of accidental death of children in the home. A child can easily start a fire by playing with matches or lighters. Return to Top of Page What Can You Do? The most effective intervention for curious children is proper adult supervision and fire safety education. Teach preschool children to TELL an adult if they find matches or lighters. Teach school age children to GIVE matches and lighters to an adult. Praise your child whenever he or she does this. Teach your child how to SAY NO when friends suggest playing with fire. Teach children that fire is a tool, not a toy. Talk about ways adults use different tools (co
