Park Play And Being Overprotective

[cheerfuldom]

I wouldnt let my 9 year old go to the park alone OR with a friend, unless the friend was significantly older and someone that I knew and trusted. These are not the "good old days" where school age kids can roam the neighborhood. I dont care if that makes me overprotective. I would rather be over cautious than not

[Willow]

I have a 9 year old, and if we lived in town I wouldn't let her go off on her own either. As it stands we live rurally so thankfully it's never something she's never even asked about

I don't see that as being overly protective, I see it as using common sense in a world where most parents have lost all.

Times have changed since we were kids, we can't raise our kids the way we were because the world just isn't the same place. Let him be mad at you for it if he wants, he can only be made if he's alive.


Not said to offend, but frankly, he's already getting quite a bit of time there a day as it is. Getting cranky for not having *more* comes off greedy to me, I wouldn't be hearing any of that, you've been more than generous as it is!!! I'd try to help him find some new hobbies to fill the time you cannot be around to supervise him there. I cannot imagine a child that age enjoying 4 hours a day swinging every single day anyway. If this were one of my kids I'd predict that would eventually get old, imaginations would start to run a bit and they'd likely find something far more interesting to fill their time there with....which would likely land them in trouble. Doesn't matter how good of kids they are, young minds left to their own unsupervised devices often land themselves in wonky territory. Just a word of caution in support of your position

[clep]

Thanks everyone. I feel a bit better now. I also agree with the person that said he has lots of park time as it is. That is exactly what I was thinking. He has a whole play room, and tons of other things to busy him.

I let him know today that if he couldn't find something to do other than the park I would find some chores for him to do.

Out came the lego. ::