HOW FREELY DO YOU LET YOUR CHILDREN PLAY?

I recently had a great discussion with some friends about whether we know our neighbours, and whether it’s even important for us to know them. I found it fascinating the range of demographics and geography represented in the comments. Overall, it seems like most of us want to establish some sort of community relationship with our neighbours, no matter where we live or what life stage we’re in.

Many of us have small children, so my question involves their well-being. There has been a huge shift in thinking, even just from my generation, about what constitutes safe playing for children.

Nearly extinct are the days when children just free played up and down their street, riding bikes to the pool and goofing around outside until the parents called them in for dinner. Now, it’s much more about scheduled play dates, organised activities, and supervised backyard play.

Parents are seem to be overly worried, because the dangers we imagine are mostly in our heads. Thanks to the internet and nonstop news, we receive worldwide information instantaneously, making us falsely believe the world is more dangerous than when we were children. In fact, crime overall is at an all-time 30 year low.

Here’s my discussion question:

Do you let your children play outside in a “free-range” style? How safe do you feel letting them out of your sight, even when you know where they are? Do you think our current world is truly safer than it was when we were children? And how does this affect how you interact with your neighbours?

Also share how old your children are and your living conditions, because I’m sure there’s a correlation.

Looking forward hearing from you.

(Photo’s by Evelyne Photography)