To wonder why parents are so risk averse?

[gingerdad]

gu.com/p/4dah3/sbl

On my phone so not sure that link would work.

For me it frustrates me they my DDs friends are so risk averse. One example DD1 14 wanted to go to a city with friends for an event but none of her friends where allowed to go unless a parent went with them. Why? For me it's the next stage they've been to the local town on bus and train and proven they can be trusted.

Having seen this article we we as a country much more risk averse than ever before. Kids need to be allowed to push boundaries and get into at least a little danger / risk at times.

wonderpants that's put me off letting DD out on her own for a few more years!

It drives me batty. DS(13) goes to school in Edinburgh, around 15 miles from where we live. He usually gets the school bus to/from school, but on the days where he has clubs or is going round to a friend's house he'll make his own way on the city bus to the centre and get the train home. He's been doing so since he was 11. He'll also work out the buses to go meet up with friends sometimes at the weekend.

He's absolutely fine doing this and has dealt with cancelled trains and the entire line being closed down on numerous occasions. To his city friends, running around Edinburgh is the norm, but if I mention it to the mums where we live, I get responses of pure horror that my child is allowed such freedom. MIL is dreadful about it and I did snap at her one day that, "being the sheltered child from the sticks will do him no favours"

Having said all that, we're also sending him to Panama by himself for a week in February so I may verge on the extreme side of independence.

Thanks Tali
That sounds tricky for him.

Tali Notso I completely agree with all your posts. Enjolrass just a wild guess but I'm assuming the OP is a man (sorry if I'm wrong gigngerdad )

Joy it is, it's caused him loads of problems. We're not together partly down to I felt like I was babysitting all the time

I was a child in the 70s and led a very sheltered life compared to some PPs!

Despite what many parents think, children DO have a survival instinct, especially if it is allowed to develop.
They also have intelligence. They are not the same 'people' when out on their own as they are when they are under your supervision.
Children are a lot more capable than many parents give them credit for, and this constant worrying that 'something will happen to them' is damaging to them.
Of course no one should just leave children to their own devices or deliberately put them in danger but many children must lack basic coping skills because of this constant helicopter parenting.