If the answer is yes, then this is for you.
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Lots of parents ask about which flint and steel or knife would we recommend for them to buy for their child.
I have prepared a list of equipment that I have used, the links of where to buy them and my thoughts on them in practice.
I hope this is helpful.
Forest School offers a huge range of activities to spark children's interest in the outdoors but I would say that the two activities that attract the most interest are fire and tools. Children often ask parents if they can have their own flint and steel or knife. This means that children can continue practising their skills at home.
What are they?
This is a traditional way of lighting a fire. The flint and steel are scaped together under pressure, causing friction and a spark. This is quite a skill and I recommend that children find their own 'style' of striking. This is especially true for left-handed children who definitely should follow their instinct of what feels good for them. I've used different flint and steels over the last few years and I think the best ones are the ones that work for you.
They are often tied together. The flint is the part that is the shape of a stick/rod and sometimes has a small thumb handle and the steel is the flat piece of metal. I have spent years thinking they were the other way around!
I started out using the ones pictured below and I used Greenman Bushcraft when I first started buying outdoor kit for Forest School, which is great for all sorts of bushcraft and outdoor kit.
This one comes with some 'spark discs' which is a more commercialised version of 'run-of-the-mill' cotton wool which we use at Forest School but it's quite a nice 'ready-to-go' kit.
You may prefer this type of fire steel. It is a mini size. The top of the steel is used to scrape down the flint as opposed to the side as with the other models. I think this depends on which your child finds easier to manipulate. It is just a case of practising and finding their own way.
So this is my current go-to. It is comparatively expensive at £14.99. In my experience, children are the most successful when they use this model. Like all of the models, they need 'roughing up' a bit in order to create a spark.
This is easily done by scraping the black coating off and making the surface rough. The one I have that works best for the children has got a couple of small divots in towards the end. This makes getting a spark substantially easier.
This flint and steel is made from eco friendly wood, you get a choice of pine wood or jute rope as tinder. This is the block of wood attached to the string on the flint and steel. The serrated end of the steel can be used to grate small bits of tinder to assist with fire lighting.
It feels like a good quality product and it comes in a little pouch. It is easy to use and has a capacity of at least 15,000 uses.
With all flint and steels after a lot of use, you may find that flints snaps in the middle or falls out of the handle. You can buy replacements.
Having your own knife as a child feels great. At Forest School children can bring their own knives but we ask them to hand them in at the tool area, where children can access them for use within this area any time during the session when the tool area is open.
The knives that we use at Forest School are called short fixed blade knives. They have a chunky handle and a small fixed blade. There is a small lip between the handle and the blade to protect from injury. They are very effective and easy to use.
I also use one with a longer blade because it is useful to use with a mallet to split small pieces of wood of a bigger piece or to split it down the middle.
I LOVE Opinel knives. They are a French brand who specialise in the craft of making knives. They are expertly crafted and their attention to detail is clear. It folds into a penknife which children love. This knife could be classed as a beginner's knife because it has a round end, however, do not be fooled, it is super sharp as all good knives should be. It is more dangerous to work with a blunt knife than a sharp one. It is important to note that children should get used to opening the knife safely using the nail grip and then twisting the metal belt around the middle to keep it open. This takes some practise. Make sure fingers are out of the way when it is collapsed down and locked. It is a great little knife.
It is important that children always push the blade away from their bodies as a beginner. They should wear a rigger glove on the other hand. This is the hand that is holding the wood that they are carving. This is because the risk of cutting themselves is greater on the hand that is holding the wood. The hand that is holding the handle of the knife has a very low risk of injury. Here is a link to a rigger glove. It must be tough material like leather.
So there it is.
A few tips on which kit to buy. Children can extend the tremendous benefits of Forest School at home by having some of the kit explained above.
Before I go, I want to be clear that at Forest School children are taught to always have an adult present for both these activities and this should be the case at home too. My advice is to try not to let your own fears take over. Children who have come to Forest School will be well versed in how to be near fire and stay safe.
If you are interested in finding out how to support your child learn Early fire lighting skills I have made a series of very short videos explaining simply how to stay safe and enjoy lighting fires with your child. Fire is part of our lives and it is great for children to know and understand more about it and why it is important to respect it.
I hope this is helpful.
Please let me know if it is by dropping me a text on 07904214006 or if you have any further questions I am more than happy to try and answer them. Also, let me know what you want to know more about and I will do my best to come up with the goods.
Very Best wishes,
Sally
