See, when I was a kid, (late 70's-early 80's) the helmet would have been the most dangerous part.

It would have been viewed by other kids as an unquestionable pleading for a particularly brutal beating.,
Oh Yes, and if unfortunate they took away your flashy BMX bike for extra punishment.

/BMX jumping over other kids, what's wrong with that?

This little bit here caught my attention: the Witch's Hat, for example, a play contraption that would spin children around while they hung on to chains

what?

Just to get this out of the way, I am a father of two boys, 8 and 4.

Some of you are either not R'ingTFA or are completely misunderstanding what's being said. The writer is not saying, for the most part, that parents shouldn't be protective. She's saying that despite the fact that our world is a safer place for our kids, parents are worrying more than ever that it's more dangerous. I agree 100%. My wife practically has a stroke every time my kid crosses the street in front of our house because "The idiots drive too fast on this street". Yes there are asshats who do 45 on our 25 street, but my kid is smart enough to know not to step in front of them. and they drove just as fast 30 years ago but in heavier cars. (Think Plymouth Fury)

At the risk of appearing to contradict myself, ObscureNameHere, you are over-protective. Let your kids explore the neighborhood by themselves a little bit (assuming they're at least 7 or 8 years old). You can only teach your kids so much, the rest they need to learn themselves. You're at risk of teaching your kids that you are the only source of decision-making they can rely on.

Frankly, my biggest fear of my kids wandering the neighborhood is that they approach a strange dog and think it must be friendly. So I teach them not to approach strange dogs. I am not worried about pedophiles becuase they have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being accosted by a molester.

The reason that more parents today are overprotective is that they put all their eggs in one basket. The baby boomer patents had it right, have a dozen or so children and if you lose one or two, you still have ten others to neglect. The ones that made it would be tougher and smarter because of it. Darwinism plain and simple

Today's kids are going to grow up in a world where they're cuddled too much and will grow up to become big pussies.


Then the crab people will rise up and take over.

7of7: Saying that the world was more dangerous 30 years ago could conceivably mean that bubble wrapping everything is actually working therefore it should be continued.

Came in here to say the same thing.

Yeah back in the day we rode bikes from 69th street across the ferry to damn near rollover pass looking for a mystical fireworks stand.

Jeebus that was a long ride. We were ten maybe? Seriously it was 6-8 hours???

We had to call Mom to come get us in the van three quarters of the way back... and she wasnt pissed...

Then again Mom could light matches with our BB guns.

can't stop the harmony: This little bit here caught my attention: the Witch's Hat, for example, a play contraption that would spin children around while they hung on to chains

what?

GIS Results:

take your pick. it appears to be an evolution of the witch's hat.

ObscureNameHere: No, my kids don't wander off on their own through the neighbourhood. But then, if they want to wander, I will go with them. I consider it time well spent with my kids (who are only kids for so long).

Yeeechh!

Momma's boys.

I can't imagine the frustrated dolt I'd be if I hadn't had all those years of free exploring, from about age 8 on. (Though the earlier days were with older brothers.)

And that includes outer NYC and wildly developing raw construction of upstate NY.

Aw, I'm 21, I'll have a kid 5 years from now or so. I'm gonna put a helmet on his head and let him run around and break walls if he wants. Then I'll teach him how to fix it.

I grew up in El Salvador, Central America during the 80s/early 90s' communist guerrila affair. Being american, living under fairly "rich" (for the country) people I never left the area we lived in. My childhood was big open yard (surrounded by 20ft cement wall, glass cemented at the top and razor wire) a big truck, a school (surrounded by 20ft cement wall, broken glass cemented at top, and razor wire) and trip back home.

I only remember about 10-12 times I was outside, and only once by myself. It sucked.

However, I was a hell hole to control inside the house. I climbed walls, trees, roofs, I tried to get over the wall every possible way; I climbed from the 9th floor of the school building once by using the metal bars they put outside the windows to protect from theft (and a tree, roof). etc. One time I burnt my arms, belly, thighs because I jumped from a roof onto a brick and marbel grill.

I had fun, inside.

I'm farked up in the head 'cause I never knew anything outside though.

/shrug


put a helmet, let him run around, I'll let mom take care of the bubus and I'll take care of his brain.

Hell, in this day and age if you bring a kid to the emergency room for a broken bone and bruises you are assumed guilty of child abuse until you can prove otherwise.

Thanks, baorao. I now know that I have missed out completely when it comes to playground contraptions.

Playground equipment is so lame these days. It is all plastic and the ground is covered with recycled tire shavings. In my day, I'm 33, the swings were twice as high and you would jump off into asphalt (blacktop). We had real metal slides (the solar heat was more dangerous than a fall), monkey bars, merry go rounds (aka puke mobiles), see-saws.

Now a days they are even trying to make laws against the game of tag. That coupled with the lack of competition (EVERYONE'S A WINNER!!), I weep for the coming generations.

I am toughening up my daughter, and if this trend continues she will likely rule the world. MUAHAHAHA

can't stop the harmony: Thanks, baorao. I now know that I have missed out completely when it comes to playground contraptions.

I still don't see how any of the incarnations of a Witch's Hat would fill account for "a couple of deaths per year".

When I was growing up, my playrground was an abandonned highrise construction project - 11 stories of concrete, rebar and open elevator shafts. The only things missing were pedophiles on every floor.

I know, late to the party, but what the hell...


(pops)

/ tired of overprotective parents
// slashies would help the population problem.

"Meanwhile, say the experts, our children are wrapped so tightly in cotton wool that they never learn the independence and streetwise skills that they need for life - and ultimately they are placed in real danger."

/Tellinitlikeitis
//run git me a cold snack, Jr.
///git yur mini-bike out of the pool
////run to the store and get me some smokes and a Playboy

Farkers are silly people. Any time there's a thread about a law being enacted to protect children, they jump on their "Better PARENTING is the answer!!!111eleventy" soapboxes, but any time parents actually DO take more of an interest in their children's lives, they're here screaming "Over protectiveness!!!111eleventy".

In short, it kinda seems like some of you exist only to whine, and you don't really care what the topic is.

this is why we have overpopulation problems, we stopped letting out kids get into "dangerous situations" with toys!!!!!

Seriously, I die with laughter at those parents who want to protect their kids by not letting them do anything. Can't spend the night away from home, what if they drop a hairdryer in a tub, can't go to the park with their friends, what if they are kidnapped..blah blah blah

kids need some form of indendence. This doesn't mean as soon as they walk lock them outside, but it does mean you have to start letting them learn to be safe on their own. I live near a parent now, who is so paranoid she RUNS behind her daughter as she bikes around the neighborhood ("Hon slow down, mommy can't run that fast"), and another who tore up her front yard, laid a cement drive in, and told her kids that is the only place they can play ("You never know what is in the grass")

Relax. I bought my kids walkie swakies to play outside, so if I can't see em, I can still reach them. If they are out of range, they went to far! Trust is something my children have, and we educate them on dangers, but also show them that you can live, have fun, and play outside without horrible people stalking them at all times!

I cannot believe there are dramatically more child molesters today than existed in the "good old days." They might have more access to pictures today due to the internet, but in the past they could have simply used their imagination or worse.

I think the easy solution is to blame the internet rather than look at the social conditions that actually create a ped.

In terms of raising kids, parents have to teach them about appropriate touching and what to do if someone tries to do something inappropriate. But unfortunately, the molester is typically a parent, a sibling or trusted person who uses their position to their advantage.

i feel bad for kids now, all their playground equipment sucks.

The_Beav thus saeith:

"Now a days they are even trying to make laws against the game of tag. That coupled with the lack of competition (EVERYONE'S A WINNER!!), I weep for the coming generations."

See above for the sort of utter BS I was talking about earlier. 'Weep for the coming generations' do you? Really? Over playground equipment? Wow, how much sand is there in that vagina?

'Lack of competition' eh? Oh, I guess this ISN'T the article about 'over-scheduled children involved in too many competitive sports'. If that article was in effect, then we'd be hearing about the need for parents to 'ease off the pressure'. Unless it is an article about inattentive parents, in which case the rants go 'where wuz teh parints?!!?!!?!"

*sigh* I weep for Farkers talking out of their arses...

Dear Average American Mothers Under Age 40,

Life does not require a helmet. Peanuts are yummy and the vast majority of us functional humans are not alergic to them. Not every food is a choking hazard. You should have an identity outside of raising children. Get a hobby, some skills, maybe a few friends without children. You are a child-obsessed panic machine and you are no fun at parties...

Love,

Pollexabator

The_Beav: Playground equipment is so lame these days. It is all plastic and the ground is covered with recycled tire shavings. In my day, I'm 33, the swings were twice as high and you would jump off into asphalt (blacktop). We had real metal slides (the solar heat was more dangerous than a fall), monkey bars, merry go rounds (aka puke mobiles), see-saws.

Now a days they are even trying to make laws against the game of tag. That coupled with the lack of competition (EVERYONE'S A WINNER!!), I weep for the coming generations.


Waaah! If you really think that making playground equipment more pleasant to actually play on is softening up the next generation, I want you to turn off the A/C in your car and just turn the blower on with the temp bar slid all the way to the blue (like cars had in the 70's), get off the damn internet and go to the library instead (like we had to do in the 70's), and get up and change the channel instead of using your remote (like we had to do in the 70's). All of these advances in comfort and ease are making you soft, too.

Face it, luxury happens.

the more safety regulations the less the gene pool gets thinned. I think we are better off as a society if the dumb kids kill themselves off young before they can grown into adults and take out a bunch of us with them.

Wait for the avian flu, where kids will be dying like flies.

Their clingy parents will want to hug the body a lot, which will be followed shortly thereafter by a lot fewer clingy parents.

Wait for the avian flu, where kids will be dying like flies.

you know, I installed a witches hat, put extra long stings on their hoods and told them to slide, let them ride their bikes without helmets, encouraged them to lick turtles, let them play outside at dusk, Trick or Treat without going to the actual door (good book at corner, that way I can still help myself to a few pieces of candy), I planted trees so that they can climb them, bought them dodge balls, INSTALLED A TETHERBALL in the backyard, got a rope swing for the pond, and now I have adopted 30 chickens in the hopes of avian flu

WHY WONT ONE OF THEM DIE!!! Instead I have healthy active kids who like to try new things!! They would rather build forts than play on the playstation (unless it is downpouring, and even then, god help them if they decide to play tackel football - they won't be coming inside until they get hosed)

//where did I go wrong?

With all this pampering we're preventing natural selection from doing its job!

When I'm wondering as to what do I attribute the timidness, the distaste for real adventure vis-a-vis virtual experience, and the general wussification of the current crop of young adults in the world today, I perceive that it is the lack of one thing in their youth that made them this way:

No all-metal Tonka trucks

That's it. We ruined all future generations in the name of product liability insurance.

As a kid who's grown up with bubblewrap:

Your kids do not want. Period. I am well aware of how weak I am compared to how my grandparents were. My younger brother whines like he's been shot when he scrapes a knee. I'm better off than him, but not by much.

The kid is ten and he weighs more than /I/ do.

My grandmother raised me more than my mom did, my mom raised him. When I got hurt, my granddad would pick me up, dust me off, and send me playing again. When a wasp landed on my arm and I screamed, he'd squash it and tell me to stop crying, it didn't sting me. Then we'd get back to weeding the garden, building/repairing whatever we were repairing. I was about five. Now Evan's ten, and he's dismayed at the idea of going out in Dad's truck with him to check out what repair jobs need to be done on houses, etc. If I say he's acting like an idiot or he needs to get his lazy butt up and play outside (instead of on the xbox, playstation, or watching cable), mom says I'm 'crushing his self-esteem.'

I was fairly over-protected too. I wasn't allowed to go down the street til I was about twelve, and we live in the 'burbs. It's a nice enough place. My mom panics if I want to go to my friend's house on my own. My grandma does too, but not so bad. When it's just me and my granddad, if I tell him I'm going out to someone's house, he asks if I have my phone and a bit of change in case I need to payphone, and off I go.

Don't bubblewrap your kids. If you want a happy medium- my granddad has it. He makes sure I have what I need to be reasonably safe, he knows I know the dangers, and he asks me to check in every so often. My brother isn't going to make it in high school though- in fourth grade the girls are already hitting him.

Farking bubble-wrap parenting. "OHNOESMYKIDSWILLDIE."

can't stop the harmony: Thanks, baorao. I now know that I have missed out completely when it comes to playground contraptions.

I still don't see how any of the incarnations of a Witch's Hat would fill account for "a couple of deaths per year".

I don't know, the top one looks a little iffey.

Speaking of "Calvin and Hobbes" (upthread, and posted in another thread today), I once heard someone complain that C&H was an "unrealistic" portrait of childhood. I said "oh, you mean the imaginary tiger and the Spaceman Spiff", and she said No, the fact that Calvin spent so much time playing outdoors. "I'd NEVER let my child play outside by himself!! It's just too dangerous."

/sad
//I miss empty lots
///aka "treasure troves"
////playing with discarded junk is fun!

1) Pet rocks being thrown at eachother
2) exploding Ford Pintos
3) 3rd degree burns from hot pants
4) disco
5) Richard Nixon napalming hippies
6) Pierre Trudeau running around in an `aroused' state.

7) You forgot fondue scaldings

/worse than napalm

hey, don't knock recycled tire shavings.
my elementary school got them when i was in fourth grade, and they were farking awesome.
you jump off the jungle gym and you BOUNCE!
bouncing > splinters

Maybe is cuz parents are scared their kids will sue them if they let them get hurt

I prefer to let my kids be kids , just bought my boy his first pellet gun for his 11th birthday( few years off from when i got mine , i got mine for my 7th) i let the kids ride bikes , go to the park. basically all the stuff i did when i was a kid (minus the firecrackers, cant get em up here anymore which sucks). I want my kids to grow up to be strong , and if they do boo boo themselves , i patch em up and tell em not to be dumbasses the next time , how else are they going to learn

When I was about eight (late 80s) they tore down the playground at our elementary school. The old set was made of wooden beams and platforms held together with bolts, had a big high wide slide, tire swings... it was really neat-o.

The new set was entirely made of plastic and metal, but never got higher than about three feet off the ground (seriously), and they took out all the swings and everything fun, and put handrails all over everything. The slide was about 4 feet long and at an angle so shallow you'd have had to spray it with Pam to get down. The most pathetic playground evar!

From then on, nobody over five was interested in using it, and the rest of us found new things to do at recess and lunch, like replicating wrestling moves we saw on TV, or throwing rocks at each other

Gelatinous: These poor kids will never have the glorious, youthful memories of falls from steel playground equipment, the dark red blood on their hands and knees, welling up and mingling with the blue-grey gravel dust, the tears in their eyes....

Ahhh.

Being a kid in the early 90s, I was there when they were changing every playground. The wood, steel, and chains were great. Of course, I got about 3 concussions, but I was a stupid kid. The plastic ones with the fake chains suck more than anything else. The slides are incredibly slow and there are less places t oclimb on because it only goes about 8 feet up. Anyway, my parents were protective, but not overprotective. I could go out and walk around the neighborhood as long as I stayed in a certain area. That area was huge, so it didn't really matter. I've ended up with about 4 broken arms from skating and biking and have lost about 8 miles of skin. Boy, that was fun!