Wanting my boy to grow up in a H&S free world

[Ryoko]

went for a walk in the park the other day and noticed things, like kids around 10 out cycling with parents, children who looked about 8 on pathetic climbing frames with mum holding their hand, parents standing around watching kids like hawks, there was more parents in the play ground then kids.

and they are being so over bloody protective about such shit things to be honest, the climbing frames are pathetic, the slides are a joke etc compared to when I was a kid and it's all safe woodchips under em so what are they so worried about.

It just took me back to my youth it did, climbing up two story tall steel climbing frames, with concrete underneath em, surfing on the rocking horse and those massive ski jump style slides where you used to fly off the end and land in the bin that was all ways strategically placed. plus when I had a bike I was at least 3 miles away from my family at all times.

AIBU to wonder if all this cotton wool wrapping is going to turn em all into little pansies in later life?

Wasn't there an OP on here once where someone wanted to put that rubberised surface in their garden because they were worried their toddler might fall over? :o

I agree with the main sentiment you're expressing but that's not to do with H&S - it's to do with over-protective parents.

Actually, the world astounds me sometimes. On page 1, someone is complaining that New York women play with their children too much at playgrounds. And refers to a fellow Britisher as being the only "normal" parent there.

Meanwhile, the American women denigrated for helicopter parenting were probably thinking, "God, those uptight British. Too uptight to play with their children ever".

Now, okay, I was not at that playground- maybe I'd have echoed the poster's opinions, had I been there. As it is though, it just seems absurd.

For those in the know, where's the line between playing with your children, and helicoptering, then?

I think when you (and lots of other people) say "Health & Safety", you/they actually mean our increasingly risk-averse and litigious culture. Health and Safety is about protecting people from unnecessary injury at work and in public places, which is generally a fairly good idea.

I do think the modern trend of parents markong their kids like fecking opposing team footie players in playgrounds is odd. He's five. He can go down a bloody slide without you cheering him on.

In my day, parents sat on benches and smoked fags chatted amongst themselves. Much more civilised.

marking

I'm one of those boring moderate types (though I would say that wouldn't I) - got to find the balance. I think play equipment should be physically safe - rubbery floor etc.

But I am not a helicopter. I can occasionally be found on the climbing frame with my kids but that's purely for my own enjoyment :o

Dolittlest. Yours came to the park!?!? Mine just let me go on my bike and as long as I came home before dark then I didn't get a wallop.

what difference does it make to you if otehr parents are over protective. tehy won't be raising your son. you will.

You should come and live here... last time I walked past the park on my own in the dark, feeling dead scared brave, i noticed 2 eight year olds practicing their skate moves on their own about 9pm at night.

Often see boys around 10 cycling off in small groups with fishing rods tied to their bikes too.

It's like Enid Blyton made flesh sometimes.

booyhoo - I think it makes a difference to society rather than to other parents who have a different view.

I certainly don't want my children to grow up in a world where everyone else is too scared to do anything or go anywhere by themselves.

don't be ridiculous. the world isn't terrified of itself. it is true that tehre are far more H&S rules in place now tahn 30 years ago. but they exist for reasons. good reasons. such as saving lives and preventing permanent injuries to people. to say you want your child to grow up in a H&S free world is very naive. H&S exists to protect your child, and you, and pretty much everyone. if your child was badly hurt as a result of a breach in H&S you would be the first person stamping your feet and shouting that procedures weren't followed.

booyhoo - if you're saying that I would stamp my feet and shout about procedures you couldn't be more wrong. How can you possibly know what I would do.

However I do agree that the OP is mixing up H&S with the attitude of helicopter parents.

My posts are about the latter, I ceratinly haven't said that there shouldn't be H&S rules although you and I might disagree about the extent of them. I am sad to see children not being allowed to experience learning things for themselves and finding out by trying and sometimes failing.

You can't judge danger if you're never allowed to be in a dangerous situation or risk if you're never allowed to take any.

i was actually referring to the OP who wants to live in a H&S free world.