They can be, but unfortunately the org has threatened to revoke official regional burn status unless they followed all the same rules, in particular, that children be allowed. There used to be some leeway on that, and there were really wonderful regional burns that did not permit kids. They were forced to, which resulted in the "real" burn being in a small taped off area.

Seems insane to me to think kids should be at burns.

I usually camp where I can get some distance from the noise, which means I hang out with the burner parents and their kids. It's really great to see all of the ways that burners adapt their art so that kids can participate, and the kids bring a pretty excellent energy also.

Most recently I was navigating this wooden maze, lots of tight spaces and odd bends necessary to get through it. Part way through I encountered a bunch of kids who weren't tall enough to get over a ledge (they navigated the rest of the thing with ease). I made myself into stairs for them and they completed it. Later I had an epic foam sword fight with the same bunch. It was super fun.

I've never been to the big burn, so maybe I'm just missing out on the magic of whatever you mean by the "real" burn (although many of the people at my regional say it isn't worth it), but I don't think anything was lost by having the kids around.

Their parents are convinced that it's raising a child in default society that's the more dangerous thing, and after talking with several of them I'm convinced as well.

I’m pretty extreme ideologically, and that carries over to parenting. I would consider taking my child and requiring that it be allowed strikes me as an enormous red flag.

That’s because it’s easier to recruit kids into cults or whatever