Kids Need the Outdoors

re: Kids Need the Outdoors

carfree childhood — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:09:32 GMT

amylee, that happens to me too.

It makes me feel like a bad parent but I think my kids are better off experiencing some independence (and sometimes falling) than never experiencing independence and never falling.

Unfortunately, when you try to explain this to some people they think that you are neglectful.

re: Kids Need the Outdoors

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:21:00 GMT

I remember being unable to cross the street I lived on because it was a busy street. This was true until I was about 13 or 14, when I had no choice but to walk home from hanging out at a city park. My mother's reaction was "omg, you did it by yourself?"

Recently, the 8 year old in my home admitted that he's walked home after missing his school bus a few times. He does it with friends, without prior permission, and without incident despite having to cross two moderately busy streets.

Overprotection is bad. It reduces your child's self-confidence and prevents them from preparing for the real world.

PS: Metoo on geocaching.

re: Kids Need the Outdoors

amylee — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:12:36 GMT

Geocaching is fun, too. Sort of the same idea but using GPS (http://www.geocaching.com/).

I have the same childhood memories and am trying to give my young child breathing room, but I'm finding that I've got pressure to hover over her. If she's more than 6 feet from me (I keep her in view), a stranger will try to rescue her. I find that I have to make sort of a show of watching her just to appease the other adults around me. Has anyone else had that experience?

re: Kids Need the Outdoors

Mom2Two — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:35:28 GMT

Have you heard of letterboxing? I just read about it recently and it sounds like a great way to get the entire family outside. I plan on trying it when my kids are older.