Sparklers from 7 cm to 30 cm: which size for which child

Sparklers are most of what children light on Deepavali, so it is worth choosing sizes with some care. We sell four kinds, and each suits a different stage.

Mini sparklers, 7 cm, burn for about 15 seconds and give small, soft gold sparks. The wire is short, so a parent holds the child’s hand around it, and that is right for a first Deepavali at three or four years old. A box of 10 costs ₹35. Electric sparklers, 10 cm, burn a little longer, about 25 seconds, and crackle gently. Children of five to seven usually manage these on their own with an adult beside them, at ₹55 a box.

Colour sparklers, 15 cm, burn red, green and gold for around 35 seconds, and are the ones children remember. They are also the ones where we most often see a child wave the sparkler near a cousin’s face, so set one rule before lighting: point it down and away. A box is ₹95. Long sparklers, 30 cm, burn for 50 seconds and suit children of ten and above, and adults, because the length keeps the sparks well away from the hand. A box is ₹180.

For a family with children of different ages, we usually suggest two boxes of each size that suits them, plus one extra box of the size they love most. Keep the finished wires in the water bucket; a hot wire on the floor is the most common burn we hear about.