Igniting Curiosity:
Safe Fire Activities for Early Years in Your Nursery
In the dynamic world of early years education, nursery owners and practitioners are constantly seeking innovative ways to enrich children's learning experiences and take their practice outdoors. Among the myriad of outdoor activities, introducing fire activities for early years can seem daunting. However, when managed correctly, it offers unparalleled opportunities for growth, learning, and connection with nature.
This blog / guide aims to demystify the process, providing a clear pathway for nurseries to safely and confidently integrate fire into their outdoor curriculum, fostering a profound sense of wonder and responsibility in young children.
The Transformative Power of Fire in Early Years Education
Fire, in a controlled and educational setting, is far more than just a heat source; it's a powerful pedagogical tool.
As Marina Robb, Forest School endorsed trainer and founder of The Outdoor Teacher, notes from her 30 years of experience, there is something essential about fire-making when taking your practice outdoors.
"It creates a community, it enables conversation that you wouldn't be able to have," Marina explains. "There are so many children that I've worked with who have talked about fire being better than a TV."
Engaging with fire offers a multi-sensory experience that can significantly contribute to a child's development across various domains:
Confidence and Resilience
Children learn to respect a powerful natural element. Giving them enough agency and autonomy is the groundwork for confidence and self-esteem. You often hear the proud exclamation, "I did it!" when working outdoors.
Fine Motor Skills and Literacy Links
Activities like gathering and sorting kindling into different sizes (often playfully called "breakfast, lunch, and dinner") enhance fine motor skills. The pressure required to use a fire steel naturally links to the muscle development needed for literacy and writing.
Ecological Understanding and Empathy
Learning to forage for dry wood and practicing 'leave no trace' principles instills a deep respect for the environment. As Marina highlights, "When we build fires and we heat the soil, anything under the soil is actually killed. So there's always this greater picture of what we're doing and how that impacts ourselves, others, and the more-than-human."
Regulation and Calm
Fires are inherently meditative. Sitting in a group around a fire creates a unique tempo and rhythm of conversation. Research suggests it can calm brain waves and strongly support emotional regulation.
Dispelling the Myth:
Qualifications vs. Competence
One of the most common questions we hear is: "Do I need a qualification to run fire activities in a nursery?"
Many practitioners believe a specific, advanced qualification (like a Level 3 Forest School qualification) is absolutely essential. While such qualifications are invaluable for comprehensive, long-term Forest School programs, it's crucial to understand that you do not necessarily need a specific qualification to run fire activities with young children.
What you do need is competence and responsible practice. UK health and safety law requires practitioners to be competent to deliver activities and to provide thorough risk assessments. This means having the practical skills, knowledge, and understanding to manage risks effectively. For many experienced early years practitioners, this competence can be acquired through targeted, practical training focused specifically on fire safety and management in an early years context.
Mastering the Art of Safe Fire Management
Introducing fire safely into your nursery's outdoor provision requires a systematic approach to risk management. It's about creating a controlled environment where children can explore and learn without undue hazard.
1. Understanding and Writing Risk Assessments
A robust risk assessment for fire in early years is the cornerstone of safe practice. The methods used for making fires with children as young as three are fundamentally the same as those used with adults; what changes is the facilitation and the focus of the session.
A good risk assessment will consider:
Hazard Recognition
Understanding that younger children (babies, toddlers, or those with specific needs) will not recognize hazards in the same way and will require closer supervision and adapted campfire management (e.g., creating physical barriers around the fire).
Site Selection and Setup
Choosing a safe, clear area and ensuring all necessary safety equipment (clean water, fire gloves, first aid) is present before any fire is lit.
The Sweet Spot of Risk
Balancing the need for safe practice with the necessity of providing challenge. It's about finding that "sweet spot of risk" and allowing children time to experiment within a safe framework.
Crucially, a risk assessment should also incorporate a risk-benefit assessment. This involves weighing the potential risks against the significant developmental benefits that fire activities offer.
2. Best Practices for Fire Activities with Young Children
Beyond the written assessment, practical implementation of best practices is vital.
This includes:
Preparation and Routine
Establishing clear rituals and routines. Over time, children learn what to do—gathering wood, setting the scene, and checking safety equipment. This builds a relationship of mutual trust between the adult and the child.
Gradual Introduction
For very young children, you might start with an imaginary fire at the center to build routines, or simply use a candle to let them safely feel the heat and sense the light.
Safe Fire Lighting Techniques
Teaching children aged five to seven how to carefully put wood on the fire, learn about different types of wood (green vs. dry), and safely use fire steels or matches.
Extinguishing and Leave No Trace
Demonstrating how to safely extinguish a fire and meticulously cleaning up the site to leave no trace, ensuring the land is respected and protected.
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The "Invisible Curriculum" of Fire
Marina often refers to the "invisible curriculum" – the profound, often unquantifiable learning that happens through nature play. With fire, this curriculum is rich and multifaceted. It’s about the relationship and feedback between the child and the element, providing essential challenges and opportunities to learn about the world and themselves.
As Marina states, "You respect fire, it will respect you. You can never dominate fire or arrive at rather you continue to learn, reflect and respond to the present moment, the weather and the would know the variables that present themselves just like in life you have to persevere attempts level of a child or person affect their understanding of Fire and recognition of associated hazards."
This invisible curriculum fosters:
Perseverance and Problem-Solving:
Children learn that fire-making requires patience and adaptation. If the wood is wet, the fire won't light. This trial-and-error process directly stimulates their curiosity and internal motivation to learn.
Sensory Development:
From the warmth of the flame to the smell of woodsmoke, fire engages multiple senses, providing a rich sensory experience that is crucial for early years development.
Connection to Ancestry and Culture:
Fire-making connects children to ancient human practices, fostering a sense of history and cultural understanding. It's a skill that has been passed down through generations, building a connection to our ancestry.
Practical Steps for Safe Fire Activities in Your Nursery
To confidently introduce fire activities for early years in your setting, a clear understanding of practical steps and best practices is essential.
This is not about giving away the 'how-to' instructions of fire lighting, but rather highlighting the critical areas of knowledge and skill that practitioners need to master.
1. Preparing the Space and Gathering Resources
Before any fire is lit, meticulous preparation is paramount. This involves:
Site Selection:
Choosing a safe, clear area, approximately one metre wide, free from debris, leaves, roots, and overhanging branches. The ground material is crucial; for instance, avoiding peat where fire can spread uncontrollably underground
Essential Gear:
Having all the right equipment readily available, including fire gloves, a first aid kit, a fire blanket, water buckets (one with clean water, one for dousing), and a sturdy bag for all gear. Marina also highlights the importance of an emergency bag with an accident report form, risk-benefit assessment, and emergency plans
Foraging for Fuel:
Understanding the different sizes of fuel needed (from very thin kindling to larger pieces) and where to find dry wood. "If I use wet wood, my fire's not going to work," Marina emphasizes. This includes looking for dead wood that snaps with a crack, rather than bending, and collecting wood that is off the ground
2. Establishing Routines and Safety Considerations
Creating clear routines and embedding good practice is vital, especially when working with young children. This helps them retain safety messages and safe behaviors.
Personal Safety:
Ensuring long hair is tied back and considering the wind direction so flames don't blow towards participants
The Fire Circle Routine:
Setting up a designated fire circle with clear boundaries. Marina suggests a 1.5-meter distance from where the fire will be, with two buckets of water nearby
Supervision and Support:
Recognizing that younger children will need closer supervision and support, but still require challenge. This might involve creating physical barriers around the fire for those with visual needs or adapting seating arrangements
Gradual Engagement:
Starting with sensory experiences like feeling the heat from a candle before moving to an open fire. For children aged three to five, gathering and sorting sticks (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) is an excellent preparatory activity, building fine motor skills and an understanding of order
3. Extinguishing and "Leave No Trace"
The responsibility of fire management extends beyond lighting and maintaining the fire; it crucially includes safe extinguishing and leaving the site as it was found.
Cooling Down:
Pulling the fire apart to reduce heat and flames, then dousing with water. It's important to note that grey coals can still be very hot, so all areas must be thoroughly cooled
Sensory Check:
Using senses to confirm the fire is cold. Marina advises gently placing a hand over the coals (not directly on them) to check for residual heat
Restoring the Site:
Scattering cold ashes widely and covering the fire area with natural debris borrowed from the edges of the land. This ensures no visible trace of the fire remains, protecting the seedbed and maintaining the natural environment
Why Professional Training Matters
While you don't need a specific qualification to introduce fire activities for early years, you do need to be competent. This competence comes from learning how to manage risks, write and understand risk assessments, and implement best practices. The Outdoor Teacher's Fire & Pedagogy Module is designed to provide exactly this.
"This course will show you how to forage and choose wood, the fire circle, key safety considerations, how you make a spark, the fuel, the fire triangle, using some more natural materials alongside cotton wool, which is a great starter material, how you make fire with younger children," Marina explains. "And implicit in that is that when you're teaching younger children, you can kind of extend the skills of how you do that to other children that might have higher needs."
Gain Confidence:
Feel more assured when working with fire in outdoor settings.
Prioritise Safety:
Learn essential fire safety skills to introduce fire activities responsibly.
Engage Young People:
Discover how fire-based activities can help young people connect with nature and boost well-being.
Get Practical Tips:
Receive expert guidance on safe fire practices for education and outdoor experiences.
The Educational Value Beyond the Flames
Beyond the immediate engagement, fire activities offer a rich tapestry for cross-curricular learning. As Marina highlights, the connections are vast.
These integrated learning opportunities demonstrate how fire activities for early years are not just about outdoor play, but about holistic child development, making them an invaluable addition to any nursery curriculum.
Science:
Exploring concepts like heat, combustion, energy transfer, and how materials change. Creating charcoal from wood in a container, for instance, provides a tangible lesson in removing oxygen and its effects
Mathematics:
Measuring sticks, sorting them into different sizes, and understanding quantities are all foundational mathematical skills developed through fire preparation
Literacy:
The development of fine motor skills through gathering wood and using fire steels directly supports the muscle development needed for writing. Discussions around the fire can also foster language and communication skills
Art:
The charcoal created can then be used as an art material, connecting the scientific process to creative expression
Teamwork:
Fire-making often involves collaborative effort, fostering teamwork and communication skills among children
Your Next Step:
Gaining Confidence and Competence
While the idea of introducing fire activities might initially seem overwhelming, the benefits for children's development are immense. The key is to approach it with knowledge, confidence, and a commitment to best practice. You don't need a formal qualification to begin, but you do need to learn how to manage the risks, write and understand risk assessments, and implement best practices effectively.
This is where The Outdoor Teacher comes in. Our expertise provides you with the practical skills and understanding necessary to safely and confidently introduce fire activities into your nursery setting.
Ready to Ignite Learning?
We offer comprehensive training designed specifically for practitioners like you. Our Fire & Pedagogy Module will guide you through everything you need to know, from setting up your space and gathering firewood to extinguishing your fire and leaving no trace. You'll gain invaluable insights into risk assessment, safety protocols, and engaging children in this transformative experience.
Forest School Activities Module 1: Fire & Pedagogy
Learn to confidently light fires with your group using cleaver nests, charred cloth and shells with cotton wool!
Take a look at some of the activities you’ll learn
Foraging Firewood
Making Fire with Nursery Children
Using Fire Steels
Conclusion: Empowering Your Nursery with Safe Fire Practices
Introducing fire activities for early years into your nursery setting is a powerful way to enhance children's learning, foster their development, and deepen their connection with the natural world. It moves beyond traditional classroom boundaries, offering a dynamic, sensory-rich environment where children can build confidence, resilience, and a profound respect for nature.
By focusing on competence, understanding risk management, and embracing best practices, nursery owners can confidently offer these enriching experiences. Remember, the goal is not to give away the instructions for fire lighting, but to empower practitioners with the knowledge and skills to facilitate these activities safely and effectively. The Outdoor Teacher provides the essential training to achieve this, ensuring your team is well-equipped to manage risks, conduct thorough risk assessments, and implement best practices.
Take the next step with The Outdoor Teacher and empower your practitioners to safely ignite curiosity and learning in the hearts of young children. The benefits extend far beyond the flames, shaping responsible, resilient, and curious learners for life.