[Gunnair]

wildrosegirl wildrosegirl:

andyt andyt:

I guess you misunderstood. By twiddle your fingers I meant what people do when they text or play video games. Like you, I don't see the point.

But, modern kids are wired to that stuff. Having access to it might be the only way parents can get them out there, and who knows, maybe the odd kid will actually put down the electronics and discover how much fun it can be to roam around the country.

I think people who use it should pay for it. They're charging more and more for camping, when it used to be free or very low cost.

It's rare to even see them at the playgrounds any more. They're all sitting inside playing PS3, surfing the web and texting their friends whining that there's "nothing to do". I think the parents need to put a lot more effort into getting the kids out there as well. Quit being so lazy.

(And before I get jumped for that one, yes, there are still some great, active parents out there. It isn't 100% of you. But the vast majority can't be bothered.)

A bit unfair in calling it simply lazy parenting. Although I agree there are lazy parents, it also a product of our current mass media driven society that has terrified parents to let their children out of eyesight (I am sadly one of those, though I;m trying to change) We are inundated with news about kidnapped children, abused children, predators, etc even though the odds are very long. Parents don't let their children run free like I did when I was young. Everything is managed to ensure safety from the most unlikely incidents, yet that what we do. (When I was young, the girl that lived beside us was kidnapped, rapred, and killed and that has stuck with me now that I have a child)

I feel sorry for my kid, he misses out on the freedom I had, and yes, because I don't have a ton of time to sit and watch him at the playground, he spends time in front of the TV or his computer. Him carrying a third of his weight while backpacking into the back country, however, is a bit of redemption I hope.

[andyt]

Just don't push him too hard - that's a good way to make somebody averse to the back country. Let him discover it at his own pace. And when I was a kid we had scouts and stuff of learn about those things if you don't have the time.

[Brenda]

I have a hard time letting my kids "roam free" here too. There are just not too many people here, and of course they do not want me to join them anymore when they play outside. There are little to no play grounds here, no skate park or whatever, so yes, kids are bored. Their own stuff in the back yard (pool, trampoline, tire swing) doesn't really do it anymore.

[andyt]

How old are your kids. I basically roamed free from 6 on. And so did the other kids. I think being overprotective is not a good idea at all. You live in a small town - should be heaven for a kid to roam around in.

[Brenda]

andyt andyt:

How old are your kids. I basically roamed free from 6 on. And so did the other kids. I think being overprotective is not a good idea at all. You live in a small town - should be heaven for a kid to roam around in.

A small town with nothing to do... Nah.

Btw, I'm not saying they can't. I'm sayin I have a hard time with it. When they go, they get a curfew, and they better be on time. If that is over protective in your eyes, so be it.

[wildrosegirl]

There are dangers, yes. Agreed. I was certainly protective over my sons when they were young as well. But they still have to live. The problem developing now with our "protection" is they're also losing the art of socializing. They aren't out on the playgrounds interacting with kids any more. A ton is being lost with that simple type of activity.

Gunny, when I talk about the lazy parents, I mean the ones that would rather load the PS3 than be "forced" to do something with them (I've seen TONS of these over the years). I'm talking the ones that would rather cut their right arm off than to get their arses out of the lawn chair and play a game of Yahtzee or Uno with their kids (never mind have to go through the painstaking process of actually teaching them!). The ones that would rather pick up a few movies on the way out to save any chance of having to take the kids to the beach or swimming. Those are the ones I call the lazy ones. They'll buy every gadget and gizmo under the sun so spare themselves having to interact with their own child, and then play the "well that's just the way kids are these days" card.

[Bruce_the_vii]

Interacting with parents, adults and other kids is socialization. In fact socialization continues all your adult life. It's good that kids get it early - as far as I can make out.

[Brenda]

Oh and Andy, don't forget, times HAVE changed. They have changed tremendously since I was young.

[Curtman]

andyt andyt:

wildrosegirl wildrosegirl:

We went for walks in the woods (scaring each other), played badminton, soccer, kick the can, auntie-I-over, went fishing... there's plenty to do without electronics to babysit the kids. Unfortunately, it's all become lost to this day and age.

Why go to the country if all you're going to do there is sit and twiddle your fingers?

Why not go to the country if your just going to twiddle your fingers anyway?

[Brenda]

That is just beautiful...

[andyt]

Brenda Brenda:

andyt andyt:

How old are your kids. I basically roamed free from 6 on. And so did the other kids. I think being overprotective is not a good idea at all. You live in a small town - should be heaven for a kid to roam around in.

A small town with nothing to do... Nah.

Btw, I'm not saying they can't. I'm sayin I have a hard time with it. When they go, they get a curfew, and they better be on time. If that is over protective in your eyes, so be it.

No, Brenda. Of course they need a curfew. I didn't just roam around all night, but I was just not under my parent's supervision all the time. I walked to school by myself and played around the neighborhood.

I spend 1 year in a small town growing up, and it was great. Same things to do as in the city, but more spaces to do it in. You know, play army, hide and seek, ride bikes, what have you.

[Gunnair]

andyt andyt:

Just don't push him too hard - that's a good way to make somebody averse to the back country. Let him discover it at his own pace. And when I was a kid we had scouts and stuff of learn about those things if you don't have the time.

A fair point. He's enjoying it so far, but in small doses. We're working up to multi-night soon.

[Gunnair]

wildrosegirl wildrosegirl:

There are dangers, yes. Agreed. I was certainly protective over my sons when they were young as well. But they still have to live. The problem developing now with our "protection" is they're also losing the art of socializing. They aren't out on the playgrounds interacting with kids any more. A ton is being lost with that simple type of activity.

Gunny, when I talk about the lazy parents, I mean the ones that would rather load the PS3 than be "forced" to do something with them (I've seen TONS of these over the years). I'm talking the ones that would rather cut their right arm off than to get their arses out of the lawn chair and play a game of Yahtzee or Uno with their kids (never mind have to go through the painstaking process of actually teaching them!). The ones that would rather pick up a few movies on the way out to save any chance of having to take the kids to the beach or swimming. Those are the ones I call the lazy ones. They'll buy every gadget and gizmo under the sun so spare themselves having to interact with their own child, and then play the "well that's just the way kids are these days" card.

All fair. I'm trying to work more independence into both myself and my kid. We do a paper route together, and he now has portions that he does himself. He is very dependednt, yet when backpacking, camping, or some other activities, he's proven to be very independent.

Anyway, all that to say, I agree. My brother in law is one of those plug the kid in parents. A shame really.

[Brenda]

andyt andyt:

Brenda Brenda:

andyt andyt:

How old are your kids. I basically roamed free from 6 on. And so did the other kids. I think being overprotective is not a good idea at all. You live in a small town - should be heaven for a kid to roam around in.

A small town with nothing to do... Nah.

Btw, I'm not saying they can't. I'm sayin I have a hard time with it. When they go, they get a curfew, and they better be on time. If that is over protective in your eyes, so be it.

No, Brenda. Of course they need a curfew. I didn't just roam around all night, but I was just not under my parent's supervision all the time. I walked to school by myself and played around the neighborhood.

I spend 1 year in a small town growing up, and it was great. Same things to do as in the city, but more spaces to do it in. You know, play army, hide and seek, ride bikes, what have you.

They are not under my supervision all the time. They can go and do whatever they want, just be home on time. THEY are the ones complaining there is nothing to do but to "hang down town". And that is true, there is nothing more for them than that.
No skate park, the only 2 playgrounds are either the school playground or one they hang out on on evenings, and that is it.

[Curtman]

Brenda Brenda:

That is just beautiful...

Yeah, that's the beach at Birds Hill provincial park, a 15 minute drive from my house. Its my first time camping there, I'll be back.