Lenore from FreeRange Kids:
if we don’t start examining our fears and whether they really make any sense, we’ll just keep cutting dangerous activities out of our kids’ lives without even thinking style=”margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;”>
It’s like being on a diet that restricts any foods you have ever heard may be harmful, no matter what the source — actual scientist, quack, morning news show — or how it applies to you. So you cut out all salt, all fat, all carbs, all dairy, all eggs, all peanuts, all wheat, all meat, all tap water (in case it’s carcinogenic), all bottled water (in case it’scarcinogenic), coffee (because it’s so wonderful, something must be wrong with it) and pretty soon you are eating unsalted popcorn three times a day with nothing to wash it down with.
Meanwhile, think of how we’ve restricted our kids: they’re not allowed to walk to school (cars!), bike to a friend’s house (perverts on the way), play in the park (those perverts again), the woods (scary), the creek (drowning) the lawn (ticks), the tree (gravity) or dirt (dirt). All they are left with is a selection of supervised, sanitized, often pricey activities that allow zero room for creativity. And at the end – I know because I’ve been there – they get a trophy.
News are now reporting how the increase in fuel is forcing schools to consider making children walk to go to school!! The topic is nothing new. As Lenore puts it so well above, parents and society have been paranoid about every single tiny little danger possible out there, convincing them to shelter their children away from the bad outside world. Any excuses are good to explain this sad reality, whether it is that there are not enough sidewalks , or that there might be a pervert lurking somewhere, children have simply lost the right roam freely.
Fortunately, there are organizations, schools (California), cities (Sacramento) and people (Lenore), bringing some sense back.
There were roads, cars, dark scary forests, snow storms, the ever threat of snow ball coming your way, and monstrous snow-plower when I was young. Yet I was told to go out and play, and obviously to walk to school. What did that gave me? The ability to discover and read my environment. To know real dangers, from fear based ones. It allowed me to develop survival skills essential for any human being. It allowed me, as I look back today, to enjoy the world today and not stress the stuff, unlike our society that has now created a fear based culture of everything and nothing.
If it takes an increase in fuel costs to bring some sense back, then bring it on. Maybe people will think twice before tagging moms like Lenore as the worst mom in the world simply for letting her child explore the city. Maybe parents will discover how they have not been doing their children any favor all this time.
Tag: free stuff