Kids Safety

[jenndisney]

A group of us were discussing safety this weekend and I just want to know what you guys think.

I do not think our kids are that much more at risk than we were as kids. I think that it is just with our instant around the world media that we are so much more aware of molesters, kidnappers, etc...

One of my friends feels that our generation grew up with the "Don't Talk to Strangers...Danger is everywhere" and that has caused us as parents now to be much more over protective. We remember disapearing until the sun went down in the summer and not having a care in the world. Now we let our kids only play where we can see them.

Just curious as to what others think.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I do not think there are anymore crazy people than when we were kids, but there are more Divorced/Estanged parents. I saw a statistic that 99% of all kid are taken by somebody they know and it is usually a non-custodial parent. If you are married and live with the parent of all of your kids, you kids are very safe. If your ex is a nut then be worried.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I need to change my answer. I hastily put no...but thinking about it, i say yes, our kids are at risk moreht an we were because of the internet, cell phones, ect.

the world has SHRUNK ten-fold since we were kids. It used to be, a child molester is CA only had CA kids to prey on, now he can prey on a kid in Rhode Island.

Our parents only had to worry about us when we left the house, now parents have to worry even if their kid is in their bedroom (on the computer).

 

[froglady]

I also think that parents are more apt to be blamed for anything "bad" happening to their children.

Instead of something being considered a tragedy, and the parents shown compassion, they're more likely to be accused of child neglect. Part of this is due to the media publicizing things nationally, so that more people are aware of the dangers than in the past, and parents expected to anticipate and prevent them, and part of this is due to the current mentality that SOMEONE must be at fault for anything bad that happens. Either you brought it upon yourself, or someone did it to you, but someone has to be punished. It seems that there's no such thing as an accident anymore.

 

[VSL]

I think I'm with Disney1fan2002 on this.

 

[Christine]

I think it depends where you live. I live in the D.C. suburbs and I would say that, these days, it is more dangerous just due to population growth. There has been such an influx in people (normal and crazy) that I think it is more dangerous. Maybe in other areas it is not that noticeable. Also, the people seem to be more transient and less rooted to a "community" so I think it just makes it easier for crimes to be committed.

 

[elizke]

I think that we are more fearful because instead of hearing only about the bad things that happen in your small town or neighborhood, with the 24 hour news frenzy we must hear about all the bad things that happen everywhere.

However, I also think that this extreme coverage causes more crazies to act. Getting ideas, admiring criminal notoriety, encouraging criminal thoughts - I think this actually causes more crime.

I also think that in the past, though I loved my all-day freedom and feel very sad kids don't get that anymore, I know, as many do, that there were bad things that happened that our parents were happily oblivious of. I sometimes wish I could be that oblivious. The the fact remains I am definitely not and would blame myself were something to happen.

It's like the way people talk about how "well we just rode around climbing all over the car, and it's so silly now how kids are strapped in, and WE are fine aren't we?" But then ask them if they wear a seatbelt. I'm sure for a time people made fun of those who insisted on drinking only clean water.

We learn from mistakes as a society and sometimes we may go overboard, but we each have to decide comfort level for ourselves.

You can see why I had to check "other"! : )

E.

 

[laurie31]

I also was going to say no, but changed my mind after reading Disney1fan2002's post. I worry a lot more about my kids on the 'net than I do when they're playing outside. There are so many porn sites that mimic legit sites that kids would go to

Also, when I was a kid, everyone in our neighborhood went to our church and we were all good friends. It was no big deal for us to go play wheverever. Now, lots of neighbors don't even know each other and you have to worry about creeps like the ones you read about on here freaking out if your child steps on their grass or looks at them funny. I am fortunate not to have crazy neighbors, but I wouldn't let my kids play unsupervised and running all over (like I did) because of the traffic. People drive 45-60 down our street (it's a 25mph limit). When I was a kid, people actually drove 25.

Laurie

 

[mickeyfan2]

My Grandmother had a crazy neighbor behind her and the next lot over. She would take all of our balls that ended up in her yard, would yell at us and anything else you could think up. Well when we got a little bigger would learned how to take the fence on a run, grab the ball, throw it to whoever is on the otherside of the fence and then run away. The other side of her yard did not have a fence. When she could not catch us she would yell and shake her fist at the ones on the other side of the fence. What great memories!!!!

 

[laurie31]

When she could not catch us she would yell and shake her fist at the ones on the other side of the fence. What great memories!!!!

But...what happened when she DID catch you?

Laurie

 

[Stacerita]

i say yes, our kids are at risk moreht an we were because of the internet, cell phones, ect.

the world has SHRUNK ten-fold since we were kids. It used to be, a child molester is CA only had CA kids to prey on, now he can prey on a kid in Rhode Island.

Our parents only had to worry about us when we left the house, now parents have to worry even if their kid is in their bedroom (on the computer).

This is the exact reason why I said yes.

 

[beckmrk04]

I need to change my answer. I hastily put no...but thinking about it, i say yes, our kids are at risk moreht an we were because of the internet, cell phones, ect.

the world has SHRUNK ten-fold since we were kids. It used to be, a child molester is CA only had CA kids to prey on, now he can prey on a kid in Rhode Island.

Our parents only had to worry about us when we left the house, now parents have to worry even if their kid is in their bedroom (on the computer).

You are soo right. I said no, but now I'm thinking yes.