Child fireplay may be regarded as developmentally appropriate, yet can negatively impact those who engage in it and those around them. This study discusses the mental health, fire-specific, and psychosocial risk factors of children who set fires. Fifty-seven caregivers reported on their children’s demographics, firesetting behaviors, mental health symptoms, and family history. Children were aged 2–6 years and the majority were male. Most children used lighters and matches on paper and small objects. The majority of the children were motivated by curiosity. Children who set more fires had more externalizing symptoms, and were more likely to have accomplices, to have been exposed to firesetting media, and to have been disciplined or punished for their firesetting behaviors. The study identifies important psychosocial risk factors among young children who set fires. Given the long-term implications of firesetting, understanding firesetting in children will set the foundation of intervention and prevention models.

儿童焰火游戏可能被认为适合发展，但会对参与其中的人和周围的人产生负面影响。本研究讨论了纵火儿童的心理健康、火灾特异性和社会心理风险因素。57 名看护人报告了他们孩子的人口统计数据、着火行为、心理健康症状和家族史。儿童年龄在 2-6 岁，大多数是男性。大多数孩子在纸和小物件上使用打火机和火柴。大多数孩子的动机是好奇心。放火越多的儿童有更多的外化症状，更有可能有同谋，接触过放火的媒体，并因其放火行为而受到纪律处分或惩罚。该研究确定了纵火儿童的重要心理社会风险因素。鉴于着火的长期影响，了解儿童着火将为干预和预防模型奠定基础。