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If you thought an adult audience was
critical, you haven't seen anything yet! Displaying
to children requires a good mix of fireworks and some
thought for keeping little minds amused both before
and after the display. In this section we offer some
tips if you're tasked with displaying to a young audience.
We'll also impress on you the need for unerring safety.
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Kids tend to be interested in the following:
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Pretty effects (eg. colours, stars, glitter).
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A variety of different fireworks.
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Interesting colours.
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Interesting sounds (screeches, whizzers, hummers,
crackles).
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Sparklers are a favourite.
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Rockets always seem to go down well too!
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Devco's
Missile Of Stars produces an hilarious three tone
screech from
each shot and is a good example of the amusing sound/visual
effects that children like.
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Kids tend to dislike :
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Too many loud bangs.
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Too many big fireworks, too close to them.
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Anything apparently dangerous or unstable.
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Too long a display (kids have less of an attention
span than adults).
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Standing in the cold for hours especially if
they could be inside on the PS2.
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It's perhaps surprising that we suggest
keeping loud bangs to a minimum, especially
when you see kids charging around with toy guns and
generally making a lot of noise. We've found in practice,
however, that the sheer amplitude of some of the louder
fireworks is too much for young ears - it's disappointing
to see children disappear indoors during the display.
The best compromise is to keep the louder fireworks
until the end for your finale, and use visual effects
for the main body of the display.
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A well balanced display with most of the noise at
the end normally works fine for a young audience.
Here's some further advice on specific fireworks (this
is for displays where youngsters are the main audience,
remember if it is just a case that kids will be present
with adults you do not need to err so much on a quiet
display):
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Rockets: Virtually
all rockets make a loud bang, this is a side
effect of the payload detonating. We recommend
avoiding long barrages of maroon or salute style
rockets and go instead for display effects -
you get a bang AND a pretty effect with these.
Some large rockets are designed to look cool,
with big heads or reflective casings. These
can make a fun talking point before the display
and build up anticipation.
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Cakes and candles:
See our reviews and look for fireworks
described or reviewed as pretty, "no bangs",
visually appealing or "suitable for a quiet
display" for the main body of your display,
and anything else for the finale. As with rockets,
some cakes and candles are physically impressive
with brilliant labelling or fun names, these
make a good talking point before the display.
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Fountains: A great
way to start, use normal fountains for a pretty
effect or crackling fountains for added noise
without causing too much worry! You can pair
them up - one either side of the garden - for
a wall of fire.
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Mines: The element
of surprise with mines does not always work
well with children, who don't like surprises
as much as grown-ups. Steer clear of mortar
mines unless they are situated some distance
away (well over 25 metres) and try fountain
start mines instead. Otherwise your money is
best spent on cakes.
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Wheels: If you
want to use wheels make sure they will spin.
Kids just love to see a stuck wheel and you'll
be getting jeers for many minutes afterwards!!
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Selection boxes:
For really small venues, or really young children,
selection boxes are a good way to start. Some
of the effects, such as the fountains, may seem
tame to adults but to youngsters can give much
enjoyment without any worrying bangs.
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Sparklers can make or break a children's celebration.
They can make it because they are traditional, fun,
and interactive. They can break it because they reach
higher temperatures than a blow torch and can seriously
burn skin and clothing.
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PLEASE, consider whether you really
want kids running around with red hot sticks
of metal. Sparklers are not toys. The safety
warnings over sparklers are serious and based
on real children getting real burns, really!
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If you really must use sparklers, children MUST be
supervised. They MUST be used in gloved hands and
they MUST be disposed of properly IMMEDIATELY after
use preferably in a bucket of water. Keep your eyes
peeled for any problems. Don't give sparklers to very
young children. Never leave children unattended with
sparklers and never use them near other fireworks.
Never carry sparklers in your pockets and use them
one at a time.
Sparklers in themselves are not explosive and if
used properly they are a really good fun way to get
into the fireworks mood.
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Avoid giving sparklers to adults who are under
the influence of alcohol!!
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Useful alternatives to sparklers are glow products
such as glow sticks and necklaces. These glow with
pretty colours for up to eight hours and are not hot
(they contain nontoxic liquids too). Kids can take
these home afterwards. In our opinion these are better
value - and much safer - than sparklers.
A selection
of glow sticks
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Our Safety section has extensive help on setting
up a fireworks display but the following also applies
with children around:
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Children are curious and will come and look
at the fireworks when you're setting up, so
be careful. They will also come and nose around
when you're clearing up - but keep them well
clear in case of partly exploded fireworks.
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Take usual precautions with any additional
equipment you use when setting up, eg. scissors,
string, bin bags and so on.
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Don't let kids light any of the fireworks,
no matter how small the fireworks look.
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Check the garden for any lingering children
before you start.
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Make sure adults are aware of basic safety
points and the location of safety items such
as buckets of water.
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Ensure the spectator area is clearly marked
and ensure the audience knows what it means!
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Keep an eye on the kids (or better still, get
someone else to "marshal") during
the display to make sure no-one wanders into
the firing or safety area.
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Kids sometimes like to keep spent firework
casings if they're pretty or "cool"
(I've had numerous requests to take spent Blockbuster
tubes home, they make great pretend anti-tank
weapons I'm told!). WE STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST
THIS because of the danger of spent fireworks
(possibility of unexploded contents or dangerous
chemicals).
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Do clear away ALL debris and rubbish afterwards.
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Don't expect to get it right for 100% of the audience.
Some kids love fireworks, some are simply terrified
by them. Don't be offended if some disappear inside
when the fireworks start.
Don't expect thanks and praise afterwards - kids
will be kids! It's putting on a safe display that
matters!
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We hope that you have found the information in this section useful
and wish you a safe and enjoyable display. Don't forget to read our extensive
safety section for help setting up and firing
your display.
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our site, please consider supporting us by joining!
It doesn't cost very much, will give you full access to our reviews and more,
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