Incident in Solihull

[YoSofi]

Comments on news reports are saying that five children/young teens have gone through ice into a lake and are in a critical condition.

Really hope that all involved make a full recovery

I’m not sure there’s that much quicksand around anymore.

I agree with a PP that the big difference in those days is that children spent more time exploring but crucially there was no mobile phones. If you run into difficulties you and your friends were on your own

It’s because children out roaming alone at a young age is very unusual now @freyamay74 whereas once it was commonplace.

Yes, some people feel it is sad but I’ve never subscribed to the view that it was a positive thing for primary aged children to be roaming by canals, seas, busy roads, railways, shopping precincts and parks.

Yep knew the smug criticisms of the parents would start which is why I said this thread wasn’t for any good or decent end… 🤷🏼‍♀️

yes They absolutely go skating on some lakes in Canada. But the ice is frozen for a long time over winter and it is a lot thicker.

The only posts I can see criticising the parents have been deleted, so which ones are you referring to, @Cuppasoupmonster ?

I am asking because if you mean me, I am absolutely not criticising the parents and I’m the opposite of smug. I think it’s bloody hard: keep them in and you’re over protective and damning them to a lifetime of obesity, let them out and something terrible happens and your fault. Only a wanker would say that and a wanker I’m not.

In general terms though, as we have become more ‘over protective’ as a nation children’s safety has improved, which is (IMO) what has made the difference, not PIFs.

Incidentally, squawking in the background while others are having a perfectly civil discussion is not only bloody annoying, it’s actually far more disrespectful than anything else that is left standing.

No it isn’t @Tiredallofthetime , what is disrespectful are these faux ‘so concerned, hope everyone is ok, anyone got an inside info?’ type threads. Go away and talk to your kids about ice safety and similar, but there’s nothing to discuss beyond that at the moment. And describing kids as ‘roaming parks’ isn’t that exactly what kids should be doing?

What an ignorant post. Doesn't mean anxiety and MH issues and depression wasn't a 'thing' 30/40/50 years ago. Just wasn't publicised or spoken about. Thank goodness it is now. If it was up to people like you, people would still be suffering silently.

It depends, doesn’t it? I don’t think it would be very responsible to let my two year old roam a park unsupervised, so when should we?

That is something that’s up to every individual to decide and it’s a difficult one. It depends on the kid, the park, the roaming, the time of day, the weather, other roamers. It isn’t for me to say. I certainly don’t think for a minute the parents are at fault, but nor do I think it is disrespectful to talk about it, anymore than it is disrespectful for the BBC to report it.

Thats exactly what I meant, 2 year olds should be able to go out alone ffs

but there’s nothing to discuss beyond that at the moment. And describing kids as ‘roaming parks’ isn’t that exactly what kids should be doing?

You have contradicted yourself, by saying there's nothing to discuss and in the following sentence, raising a (very valid) question about the level of freedom that children should be allowed.

@Tiredallofthetime you seem to be deliberately misrepresenting what people are saying.

No one is saying children shouldn't be protected. We're saying that part of protecting them is making them aware of good/poor choices because growing up is all about becoming independent. Playing outside, going off with their friends to the park etc as they get older, not sitting 24/7 in their bedroom plugged into a device

Well said OMG.

My thoughts are with everyone called to this tragedy yesterday, from all the emergency services.

What on Earth are you talking about?
Kids can be naive and yes can act silly. That’s why they need hard hitting films that will stick in their mind to discourage stupid reckless behaviour that might endanger their life.

Not saying that’s what happened in this case in any way btw. Just responding to the 1970’s films.

I don’t think I am misrepresenting what people are saying at all @freyamay74 , just disagreeing (politely, I hope.) There is a middle ground between freedom that unfortunately can be dangerous and thus have tragic consequences and staying in plugged into a device. It is not either or.

Every parent makes their own judgement call and it is not for me to say what the right one is. What I do believe is that more PIFs are not going to result in fewer tragedies, as the plummet in these sorts of accidents came with a societal shift, not children becoming in some way more savvy as to danger.

@Cuppasoupmonster tbh you are the one swearing and throwing your weight around. I don’t think you are the arbiter of respectful language.

NOBODY has said that here.

NOBODY.

Isn’t the point that children are impulsive so until the frontal lobe is fully developed, which I believe is around 25 they are prone to reckless activities. I remember the film with the little boy in the Kait in the pylons, and the only thing I took away from from that is I don’t own a kite so it doesn’t affect me.

I also remember the railway tracks incident that was filmed, and again there were no railway tracks by where we left so irrelevant.
One thing that we absolutely did used to have in Chelmsley wood, though, and King’s house was a police officer on the beat. It was a man that we all knew, and he regularly caught us climbing on garage roofs, up to no good I’m regularly gave us an earful, that worked quite well.
I don’t suppose we can afford that option any more?

I think these days sometimes we don't want children to be scared so don't warn them of how bad the consequences can be of things like this.

I think they need a little fear sometimes. The kid who won't go near the frozen pond because his mum has scared him telling him you can die really fast in freezing water, is the kid who stays alive.

At infant school in the late 70s / early 80s we had people come from the railways to talk about the dangers of messing about there. There were the same photographs at the end of the video, extremely graphic pictures of victims who had been crossing the tracks and hadn’t made it.

Devastating news. No words really. I have come back to this thread as it’s all I’ve thought about and now it’s ended like this and I want to talk about it and unable to talk to anyone. I’m so sorry for the indescribable pain those families will be going through now. Poor boys and families.

Absolutely. Also, I think the Govt for years hasn't been willing to fund these public information films thinking they're easy to cut, an easy saving to make.

One thing that we absolutely did used to have in Chelmsley wood, though, and King’s house was a police officer on the beat. It was a man that we all knew, and he regularly caught us climbing on garage roofs, up to no good I’m regularly gave us an earful, that worked quite well. I don’t suppose we can afford that option any more?

Probably not @Justthisonce12 .

There was a thread on here recently from a poster whose small child had run away from her in (IIRC) B&Q. She could here her DD giggling and running up and down but couldn't catch her, but was furious because when she finally did catch sight of her, the child was under a shelf of <whatever>, and a staff member physically pulled her out and told her to keep her in the trolley (IIRC).

She wanted to know should she complain? Who too? SOMEBODY HAD TOUCHED HER CHILD!!!!!

The thread quickly polarised between those who thought "COMPLAIN? You should be grateful! Your child could have been killed or badly hurt" (My camp), and those who said

"NO! SHE SHOULD NEVER HAVE TOUCHED YOUR CHILD. NO-ONE SHOULD LAY A HAND ON ANYONE ELSE'S CHILD, EVER, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES! THAT B*TCHWOMAN SHOULD HAVE GENTLY COAXED YOUR PRECIOUS BABY OUT. AND OF COURSE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP HER IN THE SEAT IN THE TROLLEY! SHE HEEDS TO EXPLORE"

The second group just couldn't appreciate that there can be a split-second between a giggling child and having to call an ambulance . . .

I doubt that that group would want their children told off by a policeman.

@MilkyYay exactly.
Teaching our children to have a healthy sense of danger about situations which are dangerous is good parenting.

@Emotionalsupportviper I remember that thread....it was BIZARRE to say the least!