Parents can help prevent most fire setting by keeping matches and lighters out of the reach of young children. Presently, very little pressure is required to ignite a disposable lighter, thus young children have the ability and strength to ignite a flame. Disposable lighters are the right size for a child's hand. Color awareness is beginning for many children at the age of 3 or 4, and disposable lighters come in very bright colors which contribute to children thinking they are toys. Parental supervision needs to be considered.
Many parents strive to always keep matches and lighters out of reach of young children.
There is a strike zone from the floor to an adult's shoulder height. This is an area which should be free of matches and lighters. If an older child is curious about matches, show him the proper and safe way to use them, but only when an adult is present. Often, when children play with fire, nothing happens. They develop a false sense of control over it.