really interesting article "the overprotected kid"

[ledzep]

Thank you for posting that it was a really interesting read my childhood was the same-out all day with other kids building camps,exploring fields, cycling etc. We even got warning shots off a grumpy old farmer when in his field and of course we used to go back wind him up and get the chase. Never lit fires though-maybe I missed out

 

[Natsku]

Thank you for posting that it was a really interesting read my childhood was the same-out all day with other kids building camps,exploring fields, cycling etc. We even got warning shots off a grumpy old farmer when in his field and of course we used to go back wind him up and get the chase. Never lit fires though-maybe I missed out

We tried to light fires, after watching Pippi Longstocking, but we never managed to get them to light (no matches)

 

[live_in_hope]

i love reading things like this....i have such fond memories of my childhood, particularly where i lived between the ages 2-6yrs old....i spent all my time out with the other kids on my street, riding bikes, playing in the woods at the back of my garden. My friends all had older siblings and we all played together. I was very much a tomboy and where my sister would sit playing dolls and tea parties, i was with the boys, digging for worms, climbing trees and catching wasps lol. There was nothing i wouldnt attempt to climb and i have never broken a bone or had a serious accident in my life... My daughter reminds me alot of myself, she loves the outdoors and at 2.5 is able to climb trees...my theory is if they can climb up, then they can get down...it works she takes a lot of risks but maybe they arent risks to her why should they be? Isnt everything a risk then? Hmm interesting xx

 

[InHisHands]

I allow my son to run down slides and climb up equipment that is way too advance for him. Sure sometimes he falls and yes he has had a cut lip or two, but quite honestly I had countless owies growing up from the playground. What's the big deal?

As long as my kid is being respectful to the equipment and to those around him, I don't see the harm, though I do get nasty stares from other parents. It's funny though because it is their kids that are pushing others. Go figure.

Anyways... I'm all for my son playing independently, but due to two factors I don't see him going out on his own in the years to come. 1) it is against regulations here to allow a child under 5 out in the yard by his or herself and children under 12 aren't allowed in public parks without supervision. 2) I live on the border where smuggling occurs.

But my boy loves being outside and I make sure we go out every day.

 

[Bex84]

I think people have more awareness of dangers now though they have always been there. I remember some children been killed neer where i grew up after part of the cliff collapsed on them on the beach, a friend got raped in middle of day walking back from school at lunch time to her home,kids playing chicken, i know someone hit by a car when crossing one road home from a youth club. I lived in countryside, i was outside alot with my sisters, my parents did know where we were. I do remember been bullied when no adults about. I was at soft play last week and a little gang of boys were going around threatening other children when they went on equiptment not a parent in sight. They told my lo she wasent allowed on trampoline as just for big boys. I told them at soft play they need to share. They hadent realised i was behind lo and they were about to push her off. When we were at another climbing frame bit they had pushed a little boy back and were being horrid to him. I let my lo have indipendence but at this age i see its about teaching her what is acceptable behaviour and you can tell which children when they get to school who have not got feed back as they dont have impulse control and dont know how to deal with problems in socially accepted way (i am talking about children who have no supervision on dicipline) my lo is happy to play alone and is good at sharing with others and i am fine letting her play on play equiptment at park where she is free to explore with supervision. I had a good child hood but i also remember been very shy around other children after been baddly bullied when we were in situations alone, put it this way i dont idealise my child hood, i allow my daughter freedom appropriate for her age and will give her more indipence according to her age and maturity. She wont be running around where i dont know where she is, she wont be playing on street but she will be encouraged to have friends over, and she will be allowed out on her own when we feel she is ready. I know alot of friends who dealt with drug and alcohol problems, and also starting sexual relationships as young as 12 due to all that time been left to own devices. Maybe i will be to over protective

 

[seoj]

I too remember being out most of the day with neighbor kids- running, playing, climbing trees (I feel out of one once and landed on my back- OUCH!)- but I made it through and have such great memories. We could just run from my house to theirs- check in on occassion and then go about our business long as we were home for dinner. I do want my children to have the same.

Of course I have worries- with amber alerts and FB posts on missing kids and news stories on school shooting across the globe almost daily it seems... NO WONDER?! But all that stuff happened when I was young too- we just didn't hear about it ALL the time- so it wasn't at the forfront of our minds.

For me it's about balance- about allowing my girls their freedom but not so much they can't handle it... we do live off a busier road, but still in our own little neighborhood down a hill. There are loads of kids- many close to my oldests age and several around my LO's age too (so when my oldest was younger she'd run off to a friend house or visa versa). So LO may have that growing up- which would nice, long as the girls all get along! haha. Literally, the house next to us, across from us, and just down from us all have girls within 4-5mos. We go for walks when it's nice and stop and chat with the other moms while they are outside with their kids. And during the summer months there are usually loads of kids running around and playing...