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Comment by zokier | Hacker News Reader

Maybe I'm part of the problem, but I wouldn't let a kid to play with fully equipped chemistry set without supervision any more than I would let him/her play with loaded gun without supervision. Of course I also think that both activities are fine under supervision.

Anyways, I really really hope that anyone buying this for a kid is also prepared to spend time with the kid.

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I agree, unless they're older, but I think that's half the point too. Doing something worthwhile with your kids.

That said I'm getting this for me.

Sometimes you have to let kids shoot themselves in the foot. It teaches character.

As long as you are talking metaphorically, yes, I agree.

But there is a certain amount of danger that they'd better avoid. And, the best way to avoid danger is by learning the safety procedures. That kit could be used to make the world much safer (and more interesting) for them, but one can't just give the kit to kids, and letting them loose.

The problem being that it's not always their own foot that gets shot. Stuff like lack of responsible disposal of projects does not directly impact the aspiring chemist, but can be hazardous for the environment. I doubt poisoning groundwater teaches anyone character.

I hope so too, but I hope that for those not buying the set as well. Seriously, parents should be looking for opportunities to teach responsibility and work with real "stuff".

This is not exactly as dangerous as a loaded gun. More like a kitchen knife, which is dangerous but parents should be teaching their older children how to use safely.

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