Fireworks Safety for Children Aged 5 to 10: Sparklers, Displays and Bonfire Night

Fireworks safety starts with supervision. Only adults aged 18 or over should light fireworks or bonfires, and children should be watched closely at all times. Fire services also say never to give sparklers to a child under five, and to choose an organised display over a garden one where you can.

Bonfire Night falls on Thursday 5 November this year, and many children aged 5 to 10 look forward to it for weeks. So a few clear fireworks safety rules, agreed before the night, can help it stay fun.

First, this guide covers the main fireworks safety rules and how to use sparklers safely. Then it looks at what children should wear, what to do after a burn, garden bonfires and children who find the noise upsetting. It draws on advice from Staffordshire and North Yorkshire fire services, nidirect, North West Ambulance Service and the National Autistic Society, so you can check each point.

What Are the Main Fireworks Safety Rules for Children?

First, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says to always supervise children around fireworks, and adds that more children than adults get hurt by fireworks. In addition, North West Ambulance Service says only adults aged 18 or over should light bonfires and fireworks.

Follow the instructions

In addition, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service says to read and follow the instructions on each firework, buy only fireworks with the CE mark, and keep them in a closed box. It also says to keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks.

Think about neighbours and pets

Next, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue says to keep pets indoors, and not to set off noisy fireworks late at night, never after 11pm. Also, nidirect adds that fireworks can frighten and distress older and vulnerable people, and can traumatise pets and farm animals. However, it notes that low-noise fireworks may be available from a local registered retailer.

Is It Safer to Go to an Organised Display?

For fireworks safety, both North Yorkshire and Staffordshire fire services point the same way. For example, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service says it would always recommend attending an organised fireworks display. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue says it does not recommend garden bonfires, and encourages people to attend an organised display instead of having fireworks at home.

Before you go

For fireworks safety, agree the rules with your child before you leave the house, such as staying close to you and not running off in the dark. Our guide on the best times and places to talk to children about worries and safety can help you choose a calm moment for that chat.

How Do I Use Sparklers Safely With a Child?

In fireworks safety, sparklers need special care. They look harmless, but Staffordshire Fire and Rescue warns that they burn at fierce temperatures and can easily cause injuries. Also, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue says sparklers are not toys. In fact, nidirect says that for a young child, the heat is similar to that of a welding torch.

The age limit

So all three sources say never to give sparklers to children under five. In addition, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue and nidirect add that children must always be supervised when they have sparklers.

How to hold and light them

• First, light sparklers one at a time (Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, nidirect).
• Then wear gloves; nidirect says preferably leather.
• Also, hold the sparkler at arm’s length and away from faces (nidirect).
• Next, do not wave sparklers close to other people (Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, nidirect).
• Finally, never hold a baby in your arms while you are holding a sparkler (Staffordshire Fire and Rescue).

When the sparkler is finished

nidirect says to place burnt-out sparklers hot end down in a bucket of water, because they stay hot for a long time. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue likewise says to put the sparkler in a bucket of cold water once it is finished.

What Should My Child Wear for Fireworks Safety?

North West Ambulance Service gives two simple clothing tips, so they are easy to follow. Children should wear gloves when holding a sparkler, and they should leave dressing-up costumes at home and wrap up warm instead.

For fireworks safety, nidirect explains the concern about costumes: fancy dress can be highly flammable, so children in costume should be kept away from fireworks and naked flames. It also advises supervising children at all times.

What If Clothing Catches Fire or My Child Is Burned?

North West Ambulance Service says that if clothes catch fire, you should “stop, drop and roll”, and that you should practise it before your fireworks celebrations.

Getting help

According to the same source, you should call 999 for severe scalds and burns. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service also says always to dial 999 in an emergency.

How Can I Keep a Garden Bonfire Safer?

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue does not recommend garden bonfires. However, if you do have one, fireworks safety rules still apply, and it gives a clear list of precautions.

• Talk to your neighbours beforehand.
• Do not build the bonfire too far in advance, as this can encourage anti-social behaviour.
• Also, build it away from sheds, fences and trees, and check for overhead cables.
• Then set up a barrier to keep spectators at least five metres away.
• Next, check that no children or animals are hiding in the bonfire before lighting.
• In addition, do not burn aerosols, batteries, tyres, canisters, or anything containing foam or paint.
• Also, do not use petrol, paraffin, diesel, white spirit or methylated spirit to light it.
• Finally, keep buckets of water nearby for emergencies and for damping down afterwards.

What If My Child Is Scared of Fireworks?

Fireworks safety is also about feelings, because not every child enjoys the bangs and flashes. The National Autistic Society notes that some autistic people and parents of autistic children avoid Bonfire Night because it is noisy and unpredictable. Its director of national programmes, Peter Watt, says many autistic people enjoy fireworks, but for others unexpected flashes and loud bangs can be distressing.

The charity’s advice is written for autistic people, but you may find some of its ideas useful for any child who finds the noise hard. In short, they are practical and easy to try.

Ideas from the National Autistic Society

• First, agree a plan for the evening and stick to it.
• Eat well and keep warm.
• Then think about noise: headphones or ear defenders can reduce the impact of loud bangs.
• Also, offer extra distractions: watching a firework display on television at home is suggested as an alternative to going in person.

nidirect also mentions that low-noise fireworks may be available from your local registered retailer. If your child tends to worry, our guide on how to help a child who worries about everything has calm ways to talk it through.

Let your child say how they feel

It helps to ask your child what worries them most about the night, and then listen without hurrying to fix it. Our guide on what a Safe Adult is for children explains how to help your child know who to go to if they feel scared or unsafe.

What Should We Check Before We Go?

A short fireworks safety checklist can help on the night. Every point below comes from the advice covered above.

• For fireworks safety, is an adult aged 18 or over in charge, and are children supervised closely at all times?
• Are you going to an organised display rather than lighting your own?
• Is every child at least five before they hold a sparkler, with gloves on, and is there a bucket of water for used ones?
• Have you left dressing-up costumes at home and wrapped up warm?
• Does your child know “stop, drop and roll”?
• Do you know to call 999 for severe scalds and burns?
• Do you have a plan for a child who finds the noise upsetting, such as ear defenders?

Common Questions Parents Ask

Final Thoughts

Fireworks safety is mostly about a few firm rules. First, an adult aged 18 or over should be in charge, and children should be supervised closely. Then keep children well back, never give sparklers to children under five, and consider an organised display.

However, you do not need to remember every point. Instead, pick the three that matter most for your family, such as gloves, a bucket of water and “stop, drop and roll”, and talk them through with your child. So you can enjoy the night with fewer worries.

Please also check the sources below, and your local fire service, for the latest fireworks safety advice, because details can change.

Sources

• Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Bonfire night safety (accessed 28 October 2026)
• North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Firework safety advice, 6 November 2025
• nidirect, Put safety first at Halloween, published 28 October 2026 as shown on the page (accessed 28 October 2026)
• North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Keeping children safe this Bonfire Night, 24 October 2024
• National Autistic Society, Our top tips: Use your SENSES for an autism-friendly Bonfire Night, 28 October 2024