Remember when we were kids & we could play outside all day long unsupervised? Run like banshees through the neighborhood or God knows where else, but as long as we were home when the street lights came on all was well. We’d come home dirty, happy & hungry & eat everything on our plate because it was the food that was put in front of us. We’d do our chores before we’d even ask to go outside & play. And using manners was the norm, not the exception.
What happened? When did this all change?
I cherish all my childhood memories. I wish for our daughters to experience life as we did when we were young; without fear and without hesitation to live a new adventure everyday.
This really resonated with me, as it’s been on my mind. I recently moved back to the neighborhood I grew up in. Four houses up, to be exact. I remember being told to go outside and play and not be back in the house until suppertime. Now I don’t think I’ll let my kids walk to school until at least 3rd or 4th grade, and possibly not even then. I don’t know when or why it changed. Maybe when the nighttime news started with sensationalizing every local gruesome story. Or the internet brought every gruesome story in the world to our doorstep with every detail.
Comment by myalah — August 12, 2010 @ 4:19 am
I agree! I use to get off the school bus do my chores and then I was out the door and curfew was when the sky started to go dark! My dad use to kick me out of the house because ‘it’s too nice of a day to be wasted inside’. I would like to think I will do this with my kids because I enjoyed being outside playing not inside sitting in front of a tv. It amazes me how much technology we are allowing our kids to be around. EVERYTHING is surrounded by it now days! I think it is very important to limit our children to how much tv, internet, cell phones, video games, ect that they can use. I also think that it is important for us parents to help the process by stepping outside with them. We can take bike rides (or fourwheelers in our case), swimming, hiking, picnics, sports, etc… we need to show them that there are much better things to do with our time then to sit inside wasting the beautiful day away!!!
Comment by Kasondradawn — August 19, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
I grew up the same way and it’s very sad that it has changed. I honestly believe that things changed when the economy, or situation, made it impossible for mothers to be able to stay home and actually parent their children, as well as every other child in the neighborhood. I also believe that discipline, or lack thereof, is a problem. When parents stop trying to be the child’s “friend” and start being parents, only then will things change. I know that because I started from the beginning that it didn’t take as much to make my children behave. I’m proud to say that I have wonderful children, and that’s not just my opinion. I’ve been told by numerous people, including their teachers.
Comment by moocow6and1 — August 23, 2010 @ 9:11 am
i echo moocow’s statement, only i have to stop at “wonderful children”. lol. i’m still working on it. they’re still brats at times and i still want to give them away then. lol!
Comment by mom23lilrascals — September 10, 2010 @ 2:12 pm
My bestfriend & I were just talking about this the other day. I have 4 boys (ages 12, 7 1/2, 6 1/2 & 5 1/2) & I cannot let them play outside w/o being out there to watch them. Which then I have to make time during my day to STOP doing what I am doing (cleaning, laundry, etc). Then I have to give them limits as to how far they can ride their bike, as far as I can see them on our street.
I am tired of this, they barely want to go outside now because of it. We don’t have many kids on our street so they are also stuck playing w/ eachother, which gets boring very easily to them. So basically they play outside w/ me watching & playing w/ eachother or play in the fenced backyard with eachother & get bored that way too.
They are kids & boys for that matter! They need to be able to run around & get all that energy out of them so they don’t drive mom insane! LOL!
I wish I was able to let them walk to the playground 2 blocks over like I used to be able to do & play, but I cannot do that as, we live in the city & the playground is downtown & near the river (Detroit RIver) between us in WIndsor Canada & Michigan.
So when do we start allowing them to do things on their own? What age is appropriate? Or do we go w/ our instincts & say when we feel they are mature enough, cuz if thats the case my kids are gonna be in the house forever
Comment by FallingUpward — September 10, 2010 @ 8:06 pm