Too young to tend the stove?

Agree with Rose. Life decisions have consequences. Teach them well, then let them do what needs doing with coachnig. When they can 'teach' me, by demonstrating what/how to do I congratulate them, and they're operatiung on their own. Two of my 5 children are enthusiastic wood burners. It works for us.

At 16 years of age, children's interest in learning is perhaps at an all time low. They want to do everything, now, with their friends. If they haven't gained some experience with responsibilities the knocks they will suffer start to carry into adulthood.

I have had some minor damage from under age drivers misjudging things on the farm and causing damage. However I think the lessons were learned; the 'damage' to the work truck was minor. It sure was a lot easier for the boy to hear suggestions once his ego was deflated a bit ; )

My 13 yr old son does most of the fire starting and maintaining when he is home (alone or not). Ever since he was very young he has had a fascination with fire, starting fires in the wood stove and maintaining the fire has been one of his safer outlets for playing with fire. ;-P

Truth is, I trust him more than I would trust most adults, he has a good understanding how the stove works and knows how and when to adjust the draft and understands how and why to avoid over drafts. We have two temperature gauges on the wood stove (stove top and flue), and everyone in the family keeps an eye on them.
I think if kids are old enough to be left alone with a wood stove, then they should at least have an understanding of how it works. However if they are nervous operating it then it might not be the best thing to get them to do it until they have a full understanding of how it works and what the dangers are and are completely comfortable with operating it,
The main safety rule we have here about tending the stove is you don't leave it unattended until the draft is turned down. That includes starting the fire and just adding new wood to coals. Better to have a smoky chimney than an over fire.
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Today's society seems to be reluctant in giving kids freedom and responsibilities that we had in years past, I'm just as guilty of this.
I remember when I was 11 years old I use to go camping out in the woods with my friends of the same age. We would pack all our own food and gear and be gone for a few days at a time (at least until the food ran out), on our own, under the stars, no adults around, it was a wonderful experience.
Despite how good an experience it was I would be worried sick if my 13 and 15 year old boys were out camping alone, fortunately (or should I say unfortunately?) they have no desire to do that.

I guess I grew up in another time....

My stove duties began with cleaning the ashes. Then it progressed to bringing wood in. From there I began tending the stove....around age 7. From there I naturally began splitting. I do not ever recall a time in my youth that the fire became unmanageable. As for starting young, it just seemed the right thing to do. I was the youngest in the family so had watched my older brothers doing it so I figured there should be no reason I couldn't do it. I started without being asked and it just continued from there and was considered my job when I was home.

I do not agree that it all depends upon the child. I think it also depends upon how that child has been raised and the attitude of the parent.

Backwoods Savage said:

I guess I grew up in another time....

My stove duties began with cleaning the ashes. Then it progressed to bringing wood in. From there I began tending the stove....around age 7. From there I naturally began splitting. I do not ever recall a time in my youth that the fire became unmanageable. As for starting young, it just seemed the right thing to do. I was the youngest in the family so had watched my older brothers doing it so I figured there should be no reason I couldn't do it. I started without being asked and it just continued from there and was considered my job when I was home.

I do not agree that it all depends upon the child. I think it also depends upon how that child has been raised and the attitude of the parent.

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+1

But a little different second plus stages. Ash duty; stacking/unloading the trailer; moving rounds to the splitter/clearing splitting area-loading the trailer; reloading the kitchen stove/oven; trade on-off splitting duties with my farther (mother/sister didn't have the "ear" for the splitter - ALWAYS stalled it! (or so it seemed); traded on-off running tractor+trailer from the splitting area to house/ garage / shop; and so on. To the best of my recollection, I had to be 5 or 6 at the start, and progressed until the early teens (we're talking 40+ years ago, and I know the mind is the second thing to go...) .


To the O.P. -

If you daughter, or daughters, have the "knack" and aptitude and comprehension to do it, I don't see that they are too young. Just keep on coming home safely everyday from your line work!

i was about 5 when used to tend for my dad, when i was 4 i touched the stove with top of my hand and learned the hard way how hot it was. still have the scar, but never happened again. never had a over fire or chimney fire either.

My 8 year old daugter could start the stove better than my wife. However, by the age of 10 she figured out someone else would take care of it if she huddled with the blanket long enough.

Without a chapperone I wouldn't mess with it. In fact, I don't want anyone messing with it.

RoseRedHoofbeats said:

bokehman said:

Where I live you be arrested for leaving a 10 and 13 year old alone without adult supervision. Here 13 is the minimum and at least 16 if they are supervising another child.

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I am very glad I don't live where you do. You can't leave your kids alone until they're THIRTEEN? *boggles*

~Rose

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Watch the news... that's the least of their problems. Their nanny state is circling the drain.

BeGreen said:

It wouldn't be a good idea to just tell the kid to toss on a couple logs on the fire when they get home from school and walk away. But learning how to run a stove is a good life skill. If the child is interested and willing to learn, by all means share your knowledge with them. There are too many things we do today without involving our kids. When the toilet needs fixing, I pull my son in and have him help me. Why, because at some point in his life this will be useful knowledge. Same thing with learning how to burn responsibly and safely.

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Good post, BG. My father sold large appliances (stoves, washers, etc.) when I was a kid. He was also his own service department. Many a night after he closed the store I would go with him on repair calls, I was less than 10 years old at the time. My job was "gopher" and to hold the flashlight. That man taught me lots of things that I still use till this day. Interesting note...he finally quit selling appliances at his business because the quality of the merchandise nosedived and he was spending to much time repairing. I guess I got to witness the birth of the "throw away" society.

My wife used to ask me where I learned to do certain things at...I'd reply "I held the flashlight".

I've got a 4 year old granddaughter that if she shows an interest in *anything* I'll take the time to show her or tell her about it....she's interested in lots of things and retains a great amount of what I show her. I think she's going to be a rocket scientist or discover the perfect source of energy or something. ;-)

The first thought that comes to mind is "would they know the right thing to do" if something went wrong? Whatever your procedures would be were a "situation" develop. (ie using a fire extinguisher, calling 911, etc) I would be sure that he or she was firmly grounded in those safety procedures and that I was comfortable that they would do the right thing.