Why Can’t Children Play with Fire?

In America, we always try to shield out children from harm. Maybe too much so. After being here a couple of months, I have begun to question what we keep our kids from. When I first saw my 3 year old host brother holding fire, I told him to stop (in my own sign language of course). But then after further observations I realized he was helping keep the fire going. He knew it was hot and dangerous and therefore acted appropriately. He also helps his 8 year old brother kill pigeons for dinner. Kids hold down animals when they are butchered. Five year olds make run to the store to buy condiments. They play among themselves all day while their parents work. Two and three years old. It is a different society. No kidnapping, most have more than enough. Not many crimes. It just makes me think about how fear conditions us to be scared of things that even a child can handle.