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Remember ‘go outside and play?’
1.
Children learn by example, I walked to school, so did they. I had freedom to roam, so did they. I exercised my right as a citizen of the world to educate my kids therefore, I didn't rely on the news and television do it all for me. Television and media seem to be intent on teaching fear, as a large educational component. Developing minds, they keep the child from ever developing independence. And by giving us a rather bigger share of fear than any of us deserve - S&M. Take the whip to you heart because, that's what your kid is going to feel when he's fat and forty; with a first heart attack. Blame who?
2. I thought of that book on kids and nature when I read this article!
3. My happiest times through childhood were spent riding my bike finding new places to explore... usually within a mile of my subruban home. My worst times when I'd get home and my parents found out I had a good time.
4. Lets all castrate pedophiles. Anyone with me, lets go introduce a bill.
5. What do you expect? With everything sanitized, padded, sensationalized and lawyer proofed, it's a wonder that any people have stepped outside anymore regardless of their age. Enough doom and gloom, get your little rumps outside and play! (This from a 1976 3rd grade latch key kid from Wilmington)
6. Rosa thanks for the memories. My best girlfriend and I used to roller skate, take penny hikes (you toss a penny on the ground and go the direction of either Lincoln's nose or the E on the tails side), or just lay on the grass and look at the clouds. At age 11, three of us girls took a city bus to downtown Los Angeles on a Saturday and had lunch. No one thought it strange. I'd be scared to do it today. We did get approached by pediphile once and ran home and told our Moms. The police took a report. (We could spot a weirdo). I agree: too much structure and overprotectiveness is ruining childhood.
7. My nephews and niece have every possible amenity available: video games, toys, tons of DVDs and such and they often complain about being bored. And they are so pampered (patronized?) that 'aqua socks' were mandatory because heaven forbid they cut their toes or slip or whatever other imagined cruelty the world would hoist upon them. Glad I got my time in riding my bike, playing in dirt, swimming in creeks and so on without my mom coming behind me and sanitizing my hands.
8. Great column! Just this morning I heard on the most popular morning radio talk show in Las Vegas all kinds of parents PRO microchipping their kids with gps devices!!!!!! Yes, let the children play. I thought requiring mocrochips in dogs was absurd, and this is downright ridiculous!
9. Yes, dangers do exist. My brothers and I had more than our fair share of trauma as children (most of it at home, btw). But I'm grateful for the independence we had. Sure, we may have gotten lost once or twice, but we learned so much from our adventures. I long for my own 9 yr. old daughter to be able to experience the freedom of playing in the front yard unattended or (gasp!) walking home from school. If only her father wouldn't accuse me of neglect for it!
10. Bravo. I often lament to my friends about our being the last of the "go out and play" generation. We ran, got lost, sledded, rolled down hills in refrigerator boxes and skinny dipped in the (gulp) Hudson River just to name some our secret activities. We knew to come home when it got dark and we usually did. To this day I feel guilty about being inside on a nice day. I know that my generation is better for having lived through these times.
Submitted by: Cathy Keal
2. I thought of that book on kids and nature when I read this article!
Submitted by: lannesi@monroecc.edu
3. My happiest times through childhood were spent riding my bike finding new places to explore... usually within a mile of my subruban home. My worst times when I'd get home and my parents found out I had a good time.
Submitted by: spoon
4. Lets all castrate pedophiles. Anyone with me, lets go introduce a bill.
Submitted by: LizWetzel
5. What do you expect? With everything sanitized, padded, sensationalized and lawyer proofed, it's a wonder that any people have stepped outside anymore regardless of their age. Enough doom and gloom, get your little rumps outside and play! (This from a 1976 3rd grade latch key kid from Wilmington)
Submitted by: Eb in RivCO
6. Rosa thanks for the memories. My best girlfriend and I used to roller skate, take penny hikes (you toss a penny on the ground and go the direction of either Lincoln's nose or the E on the tails side), or just lay on the grass and look at the clouds. At age 11, three of us girls took a city bus to downtown Los Angeles on a Saturday and had lunch. No one thought it strange. I'd be scared to do it today. We did get approached by pediphile once and ran home and told our Moms. The police took a report. (We could spot a weirdo). I agree: too much structure and overprotectiveness is ruining childhood.
Submitted by: Barbara in W.L.A.
7. My nephews and niece have every possible amenity available: video games, toys, tons of DVDs and such and they often complain about being bored. And they are so pampered (patronized?) that 'aqua socks' were mandatory because heaven forbid they cut their toes or slip or whatever other imagined cruelty the world would hoist upon them. Glad I got my time in riding my bike, playing in dirt, swimming in creeks and so on without my mom coming behind me and sanitizing my hands.
Submitted by: venconmigo
8. Great column! Just this morning I heard on the most popular morning radio talk show in Las Vegas all kinds of parents PRO microchipping their kids with gps devices!!!!!! Yes, let the children play. I thought requiring mocrochips in dogs was absurd, and this is downright ridiculous!
Submitted by: anonymous
9. Yes, dangers do exist. My brothers and I had more than our fair share of trauma as children (most of it at home, btw). But I'm grateful for the independence we had. Sure, we may have gotten lost once or twice, but we learned so much from our adventures. I long for my own 9 yr. old daughter to be able to experience the freedom of playing in the front yard unattended or (gasp!) walking home from school. If only her father wouldn't accuse me of neglect for it!
Submitted by: AER
10. Bravo. I often lament to my friends about our being the last of the "go out and play" generation. We ran, got lost, sledded, rolled down hills in refrigerator boxes and skinny dipped in the (gulp) Hudson River just to name some our secret activities. We knew to come home when it got dark and we usually did. To this day I feel guilty about being inside on a nice day. I know that my generation is better for having lived through these times.
Submitted by: Maggie
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