Too much protection help or hinder the growth of the children?
@TheInvisibleMan (17597)
March 6, 2017 10:10pm CST
Earlier today I was in the park and I was paying attention on how some mothers and fathers treated their children iand I was remembering my childhood with my parents.
Different from my time, parents today have extremely excessive protection with their children. The child can't walk barefoot, the child can't get dirty at all, the child can't play freely with other children.
I don't know, it seems that parents raise children in a private world 
(which is obviously a very bad thing, after all, sooner or later those children will grow up and need to interact with other people).
It's something so weird to see. What is your thought about this? 
(which is obviously a very bad thing, after all, sooner or later those children will grow up and need to interact with other people).
It's something so weird to see. What is your thought about this? 10 people like this
13 responses
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
7 Mar 17
Good topic. I think it's a delicate balance... you don't want to allow them too much freedom before they're ready for it. On the other hand - you don't want to stifle them with too much protection and rules.
Growing up I was very over protected. Almost everything even well into my adult years needed "permission", and as a result today I am almost phobic about people trying to rule over me.
4 people like this
@AranciataRoss (322)
• United States
7 Mar 17
I grew up the same way. My parents were so protective that at a point in high school, people stopped inviting me to go out because my parents never said yes. 
I never want my kids to go through that isolation.
I never want my kids to go through that isolation.1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 Mar 17
I think children getting dirty and playing with others build their immune system. And teaches them to be social. Yes to much will hinder the child.
4 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
23 Mar 17
they go too far, protection sure but kids need to play even get dirty y to help their immune systems they need to interact with other children too when I was a k id we went onto town every Saturday and allk us kida played on the streets with each other as it was a small town a lot of us were farm kids who saw town kids at school
we were not afraid as everyone im tow kne w everyone one anyway
so we were safte
2 people like this
@AranciataRoss (322)
• United States
7 Mar 17
I'm an early childhood educator and I hate that excessive protection. We call them "helicopter parents" because they constantly hover. Personally, I want my own (future) children to have a level of the freedom and adventure I had as a kid. I believe in tossing them into the backyard to play with ants and make mud pies and climb a tree.
2 people like this
@redurnet (1798)
• United Kingdom
9 Mar 17
I see this too. I had a discussion with my sister about it after she wouldn't let her twelve year old get on a bus. She is also one of many parents who drive very short distances to the school to pick up the kids when they could easily walk. She said that the world was different to how it was in my day and that there are more predators around. I also think that we are perhaps more used to having lifestyles where we are used to being pampered and cosy and anything that disrupts this is seen as unacceptable. I personally feel really sad when I walk around my town and I see no kids anywhere in the places my friends and I would hang out when we were kids, they are not even in the parks nowadays.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8767)
• United Kingdom
31 Mar 17
The world is different from how it used to be but I don't think that should be a reason to stop children being children.
I live the opposite side of town from my son's school so I drive him (he's coming up 12 but not able to go on the bus alone - that's nothing to do with his age though). It really annoys me that there is always so much traffic around when more than 3/4 of these kids could walk. Some even live on the same road as the school. OK, it's a fairly long road but it's also a busy one so, if they walked, they'd probably be at school before the car was out of the driveway!
As for the parks, where I live, parks can be busy during holidays and weekends. Some of them aren't, though. I have always tried to encourage my kids to go to the park. They don't want to most of the time but I still encourage it! Our main problem, though, is that my youngest is scared of dogs and that's a huge problem when people let their dogs run around off the leash in open areas.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8767)
• United Kingdom
31 Mar 17
I have noticed that some parents are over-protective, never letting their children do anything while others are the complete opposite and have no problem with letting their 5 year old walk the streets alone!
For me, I try to have a balance. Of course children need to be protected but they also need to learn to be independent. I've been quite different with my own two children. The eldest was allowed on a bus alone when he was 10. The youngest will be 12 in a few months and I'm still not sure he'll be ready then.
There is a difference between allowing a child to walk barefoot, get dirty, jump in puddles, etc. and allowing a child to travel alone or make a meal using knives and cookers. If a child isn't allowed to do anything, though, they're going to have problems when they eventually leave home. This is why there are so many young'uns heading off to university without a clue as to how to use a washing machine or make a sandwich or talk to people.
1 person likes this
@kumbarn14 (735)
• Pakistan
8 Mar 17
These children grow up to be reserved kids.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
7 Mar 17
I agree @TheInvisibleMan . It's one thing to 'inform' children of dangers, it quite another to keep them in a 'protective balloon'.
1 person likes this
@Linda1234 (4712)
• Houston, Texas
7 Mar 17
You are right . I agree with you . Too much protection not good for children . Parents and schools need provide safe and secure environment for children .
2 people like this
