Are We Too Protective Of Our Kids These Days?
Just a little thinking out loud here. Are we too protective of our tweens and teens now days? And is it because times have changed or is it because we are just paranoid? Or is it just me?
Thinking back on my childhood, I can remember riding my bike all over our busy, residential, mid-west, suburbian neighborhood. I was in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. We didn’t have cell phones and the only way Mom could get a hold of us is if we were perhaps at a friends’ house.
We were given guidelines and for the most part we followed them. There were bad sections of town, and the occasional report of a scumbag approaching a kid on their bike, but we learned how to make good judgments and stay safe.
While we were in Ireland in September we noticed how many children (like 6 on up) were walking around in the towns on their own or with a group of friends. They weren’t loitering, they were being kids and getting from point A to point B. What is different about those kids, their environment and their parents?
Are we giving our children enough opportunities to learn to make decisions and mistakes on their own? Or are we doing too much for them? Let me know what you think!
Tags: kids, Parenting, protectiveRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Parenting, Weary Parent
2 opinions for Are We Too Protective Of Our Kids These Days?
Jen
Apr 4, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I have also wondered this… having three little one’s of my own. I roamed all over when I was young, though I would never allow my kids to do that. It’s a different world today.
Just the other night on the news here in Seattle, they interviewed a 46yr old man who had a website involving “girl love” it was only shut down on a technicality and not because it was immoral. My point is that he said he “tremendously enjoyed the wiggles concert” and “taking pictures of the girls”.
Kids should be able to be kids… If they aren’t safe at a “wiggles” concert, how safe are they roaming the streets alone like we did as kids?
I wish it was like you describe in ireland, then our kids could be… kids.
Dr. John
Apr 9, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I believe we need to give our kids enough rope to hand themselves. Meaning they need to be kids, they need to be able to make mistakes.
I strongly believe that parents should not buy their teens or pre-teens cell phones. We need to have them be more responsible.
If you would like to go further faster I just wrote a book” Connecting With Your Teen”
Dare to Make Your Life Oustanding!
Dr. John
http://www.connectingwithyourteen.com
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