This may indicate that greater effort must be given to instilling important lessons upon children rather than making the assumption that they picked up on it or should know something to be dangerous. Fire safety is commonly taught in school classrooms. If the level of knowledge about the learning characteristics of children with ADHD were raised in both educators and parents, ADHD children would likely have a better opportunity for success and safety. This discussion is not intended to imply that children with ADHD cannot learn appropriate behavior. Simply, it is critical that the information be presented in a way that will overcome the roadblocks to learning that ADHD presents.
Fire is fascinating to nearly all children and adults.
Because our society provides such mixed messages about fire, it is particularly difficult for children, even under the best circumstances, to gain a clear understanding. The intent of their firesetting behavior is usually very different than the result of their fires. A child who ignites a piece of paper to see what might happen to it does not necessarily intend to destroy their home. Firesetting is much more common in children who live in a home where a smoker resides than those who do not. Aside from availability, adult modeling is a key.