How can you discourage children from playing with matches?

Answer 1

There are some really good answers here.Yes you should always keep anything that will harm a child out of reach. But somethings to remember are, you can't be with your children 24/7. They go to school, play with friends, play at the park etc...Any of these places they may come across something they shouldn't have. I agree Fire Safety is the best way to teach them the hazards of fire and the things that cause fire. I also think that you might try some other lessons like letting them visit children in a burn ward. This way children like them can teach them a lesson at their age level.Don't forget start early with any lesson you have to share with a child. It can mean the difference between Life and Death. :0)

Answer 2

I had that problem with my two boys when they were 8-12 in age.
I was in my kitchen washing dishes looking out in the backyard. We had a huge yard with a 6' fence separating it. I saw a trail of smoke through the pine trees. I kept washing dishes. Then I saw it again and said to myself "geeze that is close". I had that motherly gut feeling and ran into the yard. I found both my boys making a camp type fire in a garbage can lid, the metal ones. This was not the first time I found them with matches experimenting in their bathroom.
Nothing worked like yelling, taking priviledges way or anything really.
But this time I found the ANSWER and it worked for good.

I marched them both down to the local FIRE DEPARTMENT.
We went in and I had them tell the firemen what they had done. The asked for my permisssion to take the boys into another room for lessons on fire. I said fine and then they took me into another room to answer questions on several forms. I waited there until they were done with their FIRE education. They saw films on fires and the destruction they cause, they witnessed what a person with burns goes through, and they got a tour around the facility and the truck and equipment. The firemen told them what they do and how they do not want to go to their home when it is burning down. The boys had to sign a little contract that they would never touch another match, no more fires. It worked. They looked up to the firemen and respected their work. They witnessed what fire can do to a person and a home.
I never had problems after that.

And quite ironic. In high school my older son picked fireman for his Senior Project. And little did we know he paired up with the fireman who gave him those valuable lesson, 8 years before.
My son was proud to do ride alongs with the firemen he looked up to. He saw fire in action in the front lines.

All you have to do is contact your local Fire Station. Most cities have these programs for kids. And it works better than anything else. Good Luck

Answer 3

A bright red bottom, or the thought of having one, usually discourages our children for anything dangerous.

Answer 4

I had a cousin who had a compulsion to light matches. His father took him out to the yard in a safe place and with 5000 books of matches made him light every one of them.

He never touched another match again.

Answer 5

The best way is to keep them out of their reach...along with anything else that can seriously harm them or someone else....If they still get their hands on them spank them. It has been said that the only effective time to spank a child is if they are in imminent danger (they need to learn it now and there is no room for error)

Answer 6

Show them pictures of what happens to kids who play with matches. Sorry, I know it sounds harsh, but if it works, you have a healthy child, not one lying in a burns unit or morgue

Answer 7

Teach them how to light a match, and make sure they hold it until they burn themselves. That will teach them not to play with matches.

Answer 8

tell em nicely that if u play wit matches that santa claus will not come for christmas and will not give any toys

Answer 9

Rule of thumb...under four feet tall always place anything dangerous out of there reach at least four feet high....

Answer 10

tell him its dangerous that he could get seriously injured! and tell him all the cool people do not play with matches!