Bonfire Night with the kids: the story, the fun and staying safe

Solo Dad Tribe

4 days ago

3 min read

Cold hands, hot chocolate, the smell of smoke and a sky full of colour. Bonfire Night is one of the best nights of the year to share with your children, and it is a cheap one too. It also comes with a great story, and a few safety rules that matter more when you are the only adult in charge.

Why we celebrate: the story to tell the kids

In 1605, a group of men led by Robert Catesby planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament while King James I was inside for the State Opening on 5 November. They hid 36 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar beneath the House of Lords, and one of them, Guy Fawkes, was given the job of guarding it and lighting the fuse.

Ten days before, a lord called Monteagle received an anonymous letter warning him to stay away from Parliament. The cellars were searched, and on the night of 4 November Guy Fawkes was found with the gunpowder and arrested. The plot had failed.

In January 1606, Parliament passed a law making 5 November a day of thanksgiving every year. People marked it with church bells and bonfires. That law stayed in place until 1859, but the bonfires never stopped. Burning a model figure on the fire came later, and over time the figure became the "guy" we know today.

Children love this story because it has everything: a secret plan, a mysterious letter, a hidden cellar and a lantern. The actual lantern Guy Fawkes is said to have carried that night is on display at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Ways to tell it, by age

Under fives: keep it simple. "A long time ago some men tried to do something very naughty, they got caught, and people lit bonfires because everyone was safe."
Ages 5 to 11: tell it as a detective story. Who wrote the letter? Nobody has ever proved it. Ask them who they think did it.
Tweens and teenagers: talk about why it happened. The plotters were Catholics angry at how they were treated, which opens up good conversations about religion, fairness and protest.

Making it a fun night

Go to an organised display. It is the safest option, often free or cheap, and the fireworks are bigger than anything you could set off at home.
Wrap up properly: hats, gloves and an extra layer. Cold children go home early.
Take a flask of hot chocolate and something to eat while you wait.
Make bonfire toffee or toffee apples together the day before.
Bring glow sticks for little ones. They give younger children something to wave while the older ones have sparklers.
Some children find the bangs frightening. Ear defenders help, and watching from further back is fine.

Safety is key

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) gives this advice:

The safest place to enjoy fireworks is at a professionally organised public display.
Do not give sparklers to children under five.
Supervise children at all times around sparklers.
Put gloves on before handling any sparkler.
Hold sparklers at arm's length, light one at a time and never run while holding one.
Keep sparklers away from faces, clothing and other people.
Never hold a baby or young child while you are using a sparkler.
Drop used sparklers straight into a bucket of cold water. Sparklers can reach about 20 times the temperature of boiling water.
Only adults should set up, light or dispose of fireworks, and children should watch from a safe distance.
Never go back to a firework once it has been lit.
You must be 18 or over to buy fireworks in the UK.

Going it alone

When you are the only adult, you cannot be lighting fireworks and watching the children at the same time. That is one more reason to choose an organised display. If you have more than one child with you, agree a meeting point as soon as you arrive, such as a stall or a sign, and make sure older children have your phone number. Keep the youngest close or on your shoulders in the crowd, and leave a few minutes before the end to beat the rush.

If you are a weekend dad and Bonfire Night falls on their mum's time, there are usually displays on the weekends either side. Agree with their mum who is taking them, so they do not miss out or end up at two.

Do not forget the pets

Fireworks can frighten dogs and cats. Keep pets indoors with curtains closed, and get children involved in making them a cosy, quiet spot for the evening.

This post offers general guidance, not professional advice. Safety advice is from RoSPA (rospa.com), and the history is drawn from UK Parliament, Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Ashmolean Museum. Details checked in November 2026.