Choosing crackers by age
What we give a four-year-old, a seven-year-old and a twelve-year-old.
Green crackers, explained
What reduced-emission means, and what to look for on the box.
Green crackers are made with a reduced-emission formulation: different chemicals, smaller shells and less smoke than the crackers many of us grew up with. They still sparkle, spin and fountain, and most children do not notice any difference.
You can tell what is in a box from its label. It should name the manufacturer and the batch, and say plainly that it is a reduced-emission formulation. If the label is blank or unclear, put the box back.
At our shop we open a box from every carton and check it before it goes on the shelf. If a carton fails, it goes back to the supplier the same week.
Green crackers are not a reason to be careless. They are still fire. Keep the same habits: cotton clothes, a bucket of water and sand, light at arm’s length, and an adult beside every child.
