As a child I can remember going out to play. Yes it is true! We would play in our yard or a friends yard. We would even take a walk around the neighborhood. We would do anything to get out of the house. You know we would be kids!
What is going on with the world today that a child can no longer be a child? Why is it that we do not feel that our children need outside time? Why have we let the media taint how children grow up? These are all things that I have become passionate about. There really is no more risk for bad things then there used to be. There are just as many bad people out there but lets get real.
- The bad guys do not out number the good guys. I know that the news that we watch would make us think that the bad guys are all just waiting for us to open our doors and let our kids out. The truth is that they are not! I do not want you to misunderstand there are bad guys. There are men and women who take and hurt children. How many are there really though and why do you think that they want your child? Statistics do show though that these men and women who abduct children often know the children! So where is the danger?
- The kids are safer inside. Oh here is an arguement! You are right it is much better to have your kids cooped up in the house playing video games or watching TV then it is to open the door and tell them to go play. I do not know the exact numbers here but I am pretty sure that the number of kids who die a little everyday from childhood obesity are much worse off then the kids who are out climbing trees.
- Kids will go with anyone. I am sorry but I know that Abigail and Emma are smart. I know that they would not talk to anyone or approach a car. This is because I have taught them if there is stranger danger to say no then go and tell someone you trust. They have street smarts and are a pair. They use the buddy system daily. They know what to do and I am never all that far away. Not to mention I peek outside from time to time to see where they are, what they are doing and why!
Now I know that some of you will come back and have a lot to say and for you, all I can say is remember. That is right, take a moment and remember when you were a kid. You played outside until you heard your mom calling you for dinner. I think that it would be fair to say that we are keeping our kids back by not affording them the same opportunity. So if you need to call DSS go ahead but my kids will play outside without me… EVERY day!
Becca
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I totally agree with you. I remember a time when we were kicked oout of the house and did not come home until dinner time. Sometimes we took turns eating a our friends houses. We played games like tag, manhunt and rode our bikes all day long and when they broke WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO FIX IT. We did not have parents who said, “It’s ok we will just get you a new one.” We walked bare foot and ate drit and got dirty. Good points Becca. Can’t wait to read what you pot next.
You are so right… I just do not see why it all had to end!
Becca
Oh yeah, I played outside all the time. Sometimes I even played in the woods behind my house all by myself. Sometimes I climbed to the top of the house and played on the roof! Or rode my bicycle all over town.
Welcome Damselfly… You sound like you were more of a kid then I was! You were daring and still lived to tell about it. Thanks for posting! It is becoming a crazy world out there when kids cannot be kids!
Becca
You tell ‘em girl! I couldn’t agree with you more
Welcome and thank you KathyB…
Heck-
Even I throw Rebecca’s kids outside- But try to get Abby to wear a coat, gloves or proper shoes!!!!!
Still- things were somewhat different 35 years ago. The neighbors knew who you were and yelled at you and told your parents. We obeyed the restrictions (most of the time) to not cross that busy street or go beyond so and so’s house. We managed to find lots of trouble to get into. But it was based on our own sense of adventure.
It is more than the “bad” people that I would be concerned. It is the SUV that takes the corner too fast and does not see a child. It is the kids that think nothing can go wrong and that they can handle anything (no limitations- (ps- it is normail at the age)).
I honestly think each child is different and it is the parents who decide what that child can handle. If you know your children and you know your neighborhood- then, by all means, send them out! If you lock your kids in the home- then you are creating a jail to which you sentence both you and them.
I do remember that we had to check in with Mom. I remember that if we were not where we said we were going, then we had to find a phone and call (yes- find a phone). Somehow, Mom and Dad knew when we strayed…
You bring up so good points but when there were not SUVs going too quickly there were pick up trucks. I know quite a few kids who even then thought that they could do not wrong and for goodness sakes my brother went “rafting” in the sewers! It was all the same yet now it is not alright! And you have a wonderful point about being able to find a phone! We did not even have cell phones! So with that said it would seem that the youth of today are actually in this theory even safer then we were.
Becca
I completely agree with you.
And I think you’re probably right about there being the same amount of danger…it’s just that the face of it has changed. And the way it’s fed to us, streamed to us, on a non-stop wave.
But that doesn’t mean we have to indulge in it.
More outside time!
I remember when I was a kid my mom would send us out in the mornings and we would have to be back when the street lights came on. Oh sure, we would come back for meals, but still. We were out all. day. long. No sunscreen, no bug spray! LOL!
I really, really wish my kids could have the same childhood, but I fear that the world is a much different place than it was 25-30 years ago. Sadly, one of our neighborhood boys has such a troubled life that he became bored over winter break and set fire to my daughter’s elementary school, causing almost a million dollars in property damage, not counting emotional damage to a 2nd grader whose classroom was destroyed. Obviously, it was quite traumatic to our community. And all because he just felt like doing something crazy. And note that we live in a nice, quiet suburban neighborhood, the kind where you would think that sort of thing wouldn’t happen.
I wish my kids could know how I grew up, but I just don’t think things are the same anymore. I do send my kids outside, but I am constantly checking on them and walking in and out of our house. Sometimes I just stay outside while they play, and so be it. I like it better out there than inside anyhow.
Thanks for visiting my blog the other day!!
I have to agree with you. Kids do need outside time and don’t need to spend so much time under our ever watchful eye. Having said that however, my children do not go out of our yard by themselves. But then my kids are 5 and under. Will I change that when they get a little older, I don’t know. Media does hype us out and scare us but when I hear that there was a strange vehicle by our elementary school trying to pick up kids, I’m sorry, I’m just not going to risk it.
I do believe in giving my kids space to play and space to get hurt. Yes, I rather they didn’t get hurt but I don’t think I need to constantly hover around them trying to prevent the hurts. My BIL and SIL don’t even let their daughter play in our backyard by herself. When they come to visit, an adult has to be outside the entire time. She’s 5, playing with three other kids. I can see them from my kitchen and family room. I also believe in letting kids be kids and let them get dirty. No, I’m not crazy about muddy pants and dirty fingernails but that’s what slippery pants and soap are for.
Hey I am in no way saying that there are not dangers out there. Of course there are. We do not live in a perfect world. My point is that because of these “dangers” we have allowed ourselves to become prisoners in our own homes!
Becca
I agree! But doesn’t it seem like the world has gone a little more crazy than when we were children? I mean there are psychotic people who microwave their babies or accidentally throw acid on the kids when they mean to throw acid on the spouse (both true stories).
Not a day goes by that I don’t flip through the channel and see some missing child’s picture up with an amber alert.
It’s a scary world out there. More so than it used to be. OR as you have said, the media sensationalizes stuff to the extreme and now we’re all scared.
I’m not one of those helicopter parents, but I am definitely trying to find the happy-medium here. Because I would be totally lying if I said that I didn’t worry when I send my kids out to play.
Hey I never said I do not worry a little but they have to be able to be kids. I know that when we were young a mother lit her child on fire and a kids in the next town over was abducted. It meant that our parents talked to us more about these dangers. Kids today do not know how to handle things because they never have to! Mommy is always there doing for them. What will this lead to when they are adults. I fear a generation who is just trying to recapture their childhood.
Becca