I have had many times when children want to jump in and help me to dig. In cases like that, I will leave my tools in the tool pouch. Children's hands and jagged digging tools don't mix. Kids can be lightning quick and jump in to help you dig. They also think tools like this are toys and will reach out to grab them. It can get them stirred up into a frenzy if you have coins, toys, jewelry that you have found to show them. They will likely do two things. Reach to take it out of your hand or ask you (and keep asking you) if they can have what you found. I will tell them I am looking for pennies, nickles and dimes. I just believe they can easily relate to this without my creating a situation when they will be wound up and jumping around at the sight of real treasures from the ground. I just turn it into a teaching lesson and show them what a metal detector is and how I hunt for things. One last thing...young ones will be curious and want to try using your metal detector. Just say no \:hammer: I did this a couple many years ago. One picked it up the dectors and dropped it about 20 seconds later. (mind you this was a heavier Garrett Groundhog that made a big CLUNK when it hit the ground. On another occasion, a child picked it up like it was a Star Wars Light Saber and began swinging it around chasing around a couple of other kids who were around. Believe me, after that, I never let it happen again. I now approach situations like that exclusively as teaching opportunities.