<RANT ON>
OK enough of this overreaction to anything the least bit "dangerous!" They are flashlights, NOT powerful lasers. If a kid touches a hot surface they pull their hand back. If they shine a bright light they close their eyes or look away!
If we're going to become that concerned then you'd better make sure you send your kids out to play in welding masks because there's often on hell of a bright ball of light right up in the sky at noon that CAN damage your eyes.
</RANT OFF>
I think this man speaks volumes of wisdom:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/202
Sure, a a society we need to take reasonable care in providing a safe environment for children but they also need to learn the lessons of action & consequence.
I had quite a few bumps & bruises, and still have a few faint scars from my Big Wheel, skateboard, bicycle mishaps as a kid. Those mishaps taught me some valuable lessons. Those lessons remained when I turned 16 and got behind the wheel of a 2000lb. car. I knew that careless actions in a car could lead to horrible consequences based on this learning.
Today many kids sit in a "safe" environment on a comfy sofa playing video games and never gain exposure to classroom called the real world. In their world a little mishap is easily fixed by hitting the "Reset" or "Play Again" button with no real lessons learned.
Mind you I'm a huge fan of video games, many quite violent, but if those are the only exposure kids have to mistakes we're all in trouble.
As a kid I survived: biking with no helmet, a chemistry set, climbing trees as high as the squirrels, playing Jarts, "dangerous" toys with small pieces, model rockets, and many other devices of horrendous risk.
If the only thing you have to worry about is a child grabbing a bright light you're in great shape. Mind you I don't count some of the high heat Mag Hotwires which can start fires in this group. Those are obviously like giving a child a blow torch.
