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Quote by: orgaelin I don't allow my children to play out. My eldest is 8 years old, and we have five kids altogether. I never let them outside except with an adult, ever. Am I wrong in this, or do I have my head very firmly screwed on? To my mind, even my doorstep is not safe. I would only let my children out to play if they had sat-nav and I could see where they were on a radar screen at any time! What's the world coming to? |
From a detached point of view, you are wrong AND right at the same time. On the one hand, I have always felt that being an overprotective parent harms the child more than helps and the odds that something like that might happen to YOUR kid, especially in the same general area, are extremely high. A little freedom is important for a growing child in that when carefully managed it promotes responsibility and helps a child deal with many situations himself.
That's the wrong side, and it doesn't really apply to you as this is forced upon you by a real concern and is NOT a "mother hen" reaction aimed only at keeping the little dears withing eyeshot. Your duty as a parent IS first and foremost to protect your offspring and you are doing it. The sad part is that it is necessary.
I come from a time of unlocked doors and kids staying out late, with vague orders to "stay close to home", and where a stolen bicycle was one of the biggest crimes the neighborhood would have, which has been replaced by murder.
It's a shame your children can't live in those days, but because they can't you are being a proper, concerned parent. There is nothing wrong with your actions.