So, is this house rule stupid.
Around our fire place we have tiles. I use those tiles as a "no stand zone" for safty.... the last thing I want is kids falling on a hot fire place. Now the weather is warming up, and we rarely use the fireplace, I still maintain this rule... I know the fire place isn't on, but I want it to become habit to simply avoid standing on top of the fire place. Kids get shitty at me when I say "off the tiles please" all my are under 12, youngest being 7. Is it a stupid rule to carry on in summer
6 Replies
It's a bit over the top in my opinion and if you repeatedly have to ask them to get off the tiles anyway, it's not exactly effective either.
Get a fireplace guard so there's a physical barrier preventing not only the kids getting too close but also visitors who like to roast their backsides (when we had a woodheader an adult friend of ours melted his pants from standing top close), it also prevents fire hazards because things can't accidentally be left too close to the fire or roll in front of it etc.
Not stupid, that was always the rule at our house too. Because it needs to be an ingrained habit!!!!
Same as the toddlers in the family aren't allowed to touch the oven, even if it's off.
Look for a nice decorative fence to go around it maybe
Not stupid at all! I think it would be stupid to let them on the tiles. Like you said, they will remember better to stay off when it's a serious hazard in winter. Keep the rule! It makes all the sense. Studies also show that nagging kids isn't the worst thing, it actually helps them later in life
It is a bit stupid since you have school aged kids who will know the difference between fire and no fire. You have to let them use their brains every now and then. Relax!
I grew up in a house with two fireplaces and was taught fire safety from a young age and was even cutting kindling and lighting them. None of us were burnt. Mind you we also had to fight grass fires etc as we were out on a property.
With my children I put a fireplace guard up and talked to them about fire but during Summer... no. I think that's going a little too far the other way. I want them to be able to light the fire while still being cautious. I do not want them terrified of it.
I get that it's a struggle to find that balance but I would go more towards education at their age and how to handle it safely rather than complete avoidance.
Yes. They're 7 and older. They understand fire burns and know when there is a fire and when there's not. I've have a house within open fireplace. We take the grill off when in use. Have since our youngest was 5 and had demonstrated understanding.