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Original poster

Do you advise DC to walk around without headphones

31 replies

cityrookie · 12/09/2024 15:45

Had a meeting with DD(12)'s teacher today who suggested DD listen to audiobooks on her way to clubs (bus and walking).

I've always told DD to have her phone away in her bag and not to wear headphones out and about because she needs to be aware of what's going on around her.

The teacher also has a 12 year old daughter so we just laughed at each other!

What do you tell your DC?

YANBU - no, put the headphones away when she's alone in town and on the bus
YABU - it's fine to listen to things walking around town

OP posts:
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Lincoln24 · 12/09/2024 23:54

I walk around with headphones in all the time, so I'm not in a position to.

Sadmamatoday · 12/09/2024 23:49

I'd honestly tell your DC just to ealk around taking in their surroundings, it's not a good thing to constable be plugged in and not just let your brain rest. That's why people are so distracted now, they literally don't take any time just to 'be'. I'm sure many people don't even know how to anymore

MoosakaWithFries · 12/09/2024 23:39

Arrivapercy · 12/09/2024 23:03

Aftershokz don't block your ear

I use these and they are fantastic. They are bone conducted rest just outside your ear so you can hear everything including your music/podcast etc.

fashionqueen0123 · 12/09/2024 23:20

I wish people would tell their kids not to. We were always told as teens not to have them in when walking alone. It’s common sense!

Yesterday a girl about 18 stepped off the pavement into the road right infront of my car. I had to do an emergency stop. She didn’t look and had ear phones in. Only beeping my horn made her look and stop! She was stupid not to look but atleast she would have heard my car if she hadn’t been listening to something. So idiotic.

Illegally18 · 12/09/2024 23:15

Juliet194 · 12/09/2024 16:15

Don't see the issue tbh. Surprised at replies so far. What is a 12 year old meant to be aware of while on a bus or walking on the pavement?

Compromise would be one earphone in, one earphone out. That's what I do when I run at night.

What is a 12 year old supposed to be aware of while on a bus or walking on the pavement? Life.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 12/09/2024 23:10

I had old school wired headphones ripped out of my ears (Walkman years ago) by some delightful twats from the neighbouring school. My kids are tolld daily not to wear them and keep their phones away.

Arrivapercy · 12/09/2024 23:03

Aftershokz don't block your ear

KrisAkabusi · 12/09/2024 22:52

Another vote for one earphone. Or the bone conduction ones that don't interfere with external sounds.

Monkeysatonthewall · 12/09/2024 22:46

SoTired12 · 12/09/2024 15:47

What a stupid thing for the teacher to suggest 🙃

This.

Not only it's dangerous, surely a child can just relax while she's walking to/from activities.

JaneJeffer · 12/09/2024 18:48

Yeah but they can't hear me

swapcicles · 12/09/2024 17:47

I wear headphones coming and going to work. However I only pop them on when I get past a certain point (work in town centre) and I'm always aware who's behind me so would leave them off in certain cases or not put music on, I can hear a fair bit with/without music.

Original poster
cityrookie · 12/09/2024 17:37

We both found it amusing that we both have 12 year old DD's both doing sports clubs in the same city (albeit coming in on the bus from villages on opposite sides) and had each told our DD's the exact opposite.

OP posts:
stripybobblehat · 12/09/2024 17:31

Why does the teacher find this funny?

Allfur · 12/09/2024 17:30

StressedQueen · 12/09/2024 17:14

I used to try and stress not to wear earphones as it can so risky with cars and things like that. But honestly, I just let my 3 older children do it now as I trust them to still be aware. Also, my 2 daughters are music obsessed and would probably do it anyway. It is defo not unreasonable to not want that for your kids tho, it can be stressful!!

Surely crossing when its safe is the real issue

Allfur · 12/09/2024 17:27

cardibach · 12/09/2024 17:14

One earphone means she could hear. Blue tooth headphones mean her phone can be away.

Show quote history

Exactly, less likely to have your phone nicked

IrisApfel · 12/09/2024 17:21

I encourage paying attention to what's going on around them but don't discourage headphones. I wear them all the time and can still hear what's going on around me.

StressedQueen · 12/09/2024 17:14

I used to try and stress not to wear earphones as it can so risky with cars and things like that. But honestly, I just let my 3 older children do it now as I trust them to still be aware. Also, my 2 daughters are music obsessed and would probably do it anyway. It is defo not unreasonable to not want that for your kids tho, it can be stressful!!

cardibach · 12/09/2024 17:14

Laserwho · 12/09/2024 16:23

People around her, cars, possible muggers wanting her phone, they ride past on bikes doing this do she needs to hear them.

Show quote history

One earphone means she could hear. Blue tooth headphones mean her phone can be away.

Allfur · 12/09/2024 17:13

We all wear headphones in our family, there are greater dangers out there

soupmaker · 12/09/2024 17:08

I've drummed into mine absolutely no wearing of headphones or iPods when walking. We live in a city and they need their wits about them. I'm fine with it on public transport or at a bus stop as long as it's just the one ear!

Original poster
cityrookie · 12/09/2024 16:43

She has an 8 minute bus ride from school to main city station, then wait for the connecting bus and about another 7-8 minutes to her club.

She reads loads but prefers to read in another language.

She's on the bus a fair bit as we don't have a car, but it's all short journeys. Can have up to a 25 minute wait at the bus stop as the bus to our village is only every half an hour.

OP posts:
Laserwho · 12/09/2024 16:23

Juliet194 · 12/09/2024 16:15

Don't see the issue tbh. Surprised at replies so far. What is a 12 year old meant to be aware of while on a bus or walking on the pavement?

Compromise would be one earphone in, one earphone out. That's what I do when I run at night.

People around her, cars, possible muggers wanting her phone, they ride past on bikes doing this do she needs to hear them.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 12/09/2024 16:23

We've always told ds not to be totally plugged in, one ear bud at the most. You can tell the folks who are totally plugged in, they aren't aware of anything around them.

mondaytosunday · 12/09/2024 16:21

Not walking around by why not on the bus/tube?

SingingRobin · 12/09/2024 16:20

Are you talking at cross purposes here.

On the bus and while waiting for a club. Great idea.

Walking around I'd do 1 earphone

But is there a bigger issue. Are you saying she can't read books because she has so many activities?

Or she's struggling with getting around places?

How much commuting is she having to do?

I think there's more context needed here to understand the comment.

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