[Guest_holy_j_*]

as above.

wdyt? what do you let your kids do or not do? Why?

I'm a bit suprised at some of the things i've heard recently (and no not just the kids in cars while paying for petrol thing) I got advised at a particular store when trying to find a stand alone hills slide the other day, that they no longer sell those and haven't done so for 2 years as too many kids were falling and breaking bones from them. they only sell baby plastic slides, and those little slides that add on to the swing sets!

I let my kids have a trampoline with no padding and no net, I let them walk to the shop by themselves, i let them cross one road to the park by themselves, I let them have their own showers, they are able to use the microwave, toaster and electric kettle, they can climb trees, ride their bikes up and down the street & they stay home while i walk to the corner store or post office by themselves (these are the 6 year old and nearly 8 year old). I let them take the 2 year old strapped in to the shop, but i'm kind of a sneak out the back and watch them go with that one!

The 8 year old is allowed to sleep at friend's houses, the 6 year old not yet mainly because I don't know anyone well enough to allow this. They are also allowed out the front of our stand alone woolworths, to run amok, while i do the grocery shopping. (i've actually had comments on how good they are to just stay out the front where i can see them). they can go to certain public toilets together, I won't allow others and never by themselves, apart from the men's loo, when I am standing outside for my son.

I think its all pretty reasonable for their ages and our location.

[Guest_Wombat Wife_*]

You know your own kids and nothing you have posted causes me any alarm.

They sound mighty.

[mummahh]

I think your approach sounds very reasonable. Too slack and too careful are both going to cause problems and you do have to allow them some degree of independence. That is afterall what are raising them to be - independent.

[~ky~]

You know your own kids and nothing you have posted causes me any alarm.

They sound mighty.

Agreed!

I too can trust my kids like you do and it's wonderful!

[Ruffles]

I find EB seems to concentrate the helicopter parents - I don't know anyone IRL who is half as neurotic as some people on here. All my friends leave babies/kids in the car when getting petrol, as do most of the parents I see in petrol stations. (As an example).

We live across the road from the school, and I see lots of kids walking and riding their bikes without parents hovering behind.

I think there is a general heightened fear of the things that can happen to our kids, but I try not to let it get out of hand. Otherwise I would never go out in the car, just in case.

The older my kids get, the more I relax. (They are 5 and 6). But the more I am quietly freaking out about their teenage years. I jsut hope I grow up enough to be ready for it, as I'm sure they will.

[Jenflea]

I'll be FAR more lenient than my MIL. She wont let her grandkids have the plastic forks that came in the TOY tea set or let her husband do any rough hosing games with them. I don't think it's necessarily this generation that's too scared to let their kids do anything. Though I do think we're more aware of dangers in this global world with the instant news reporting.

[Luckyseven]

I always thought I was a little bit more laid back with my kids than most of my friends but I wont let my kids do most of the things that you mentioned. So I guess I am bit of a fence siiter on this one. (my kids are 10 and 6 and 3)

But I definitely support my kids being independant, responsible and a bit "street wise" rarther than wrapped in cotton wool.

[Guest_holy_j_*]

That is a good point Jenflea. Plastic forks though?? Your MIL sounds strange.

Most people I know are fairly liberal also. I have seen some strange things though, parents that won't let their kids climb ladders at a playground for example, when the kid is long past the age of being able to do it for themself. Another wouldn't take their year 1 child to sportsday coz he got upset at losing. My 7 year old has chucked a tanty every year at sportsday because he hasn't won a ribbon, but I still make him go. If you don't let kids do stuff then they will never learn. Same with responsibility, if they never have any how will they be responsible?

[Jembo]

I find EB seems to concentrate the helicopter parents - I don't know anyone IRL who is half as neurotic as some people on here.

I am the same. I find myself and people I know do all the EB frowned upon things. I quite often ask myself if I live in some wierd parallel universe to EB.

But I think at the end of the day it depends on the children and where you live as well. I am pretty comfortable where we live to let them out of my sight at the shops etc - they play out the front. If I lived in the City I can know my level of comfort would be different.

The kids in my area spend most of their weekends down the river (well creek) playing unsupervised, they range from about 5 to 12. On any weekend you can find at least 15+ various groups of kids sliding down the hill into the river and more.

This post has been edited by Jembo: 07/07/2011, 08:46 PM

[EssentialBludger]

You let your 6 and 8 years olds take a 2yo to the shop by themselves?????