We coddle our kids. It's ingrained in our culture.
For example, we force them to wear helmets while riding bikes and skateboards.
We prevent them from playing with sharp implements out of fear they'll harm themselves.
We make sure they're always under adult supervision, eliminating the opportunity for them to explore on their own.
In short, we take countless measures to protect them from every possible risk they might confront.
Child psychologists are becoming increasingly vocal that doing these things is not only unnecessary, but actually harmful to children. By protecting them from risks, we prevent them from developing the skills needed to handle life's challenges.
The following article in The Atlantic digs deeply into this issue...
The Overprotected Kid
The article begins by describing a playground that would horrify most mothers and many fathers. The playground is filled with items that put kids at risk (fire, unstable piles of tires, stacks of pallets, etc.). The idea is that children are best able to learn how to handle such items, along with the risks they introduce, through experience.
Here are a few pics:
The article is long, but it's a great read. If you're a parent and have 20 minutes to spare, I think you'll like it.*
A quick note of clarification... though I believe we coddle our kids to the point that they cannot handle life's challenges, I don't subscribe to the following parenting method:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXLdSL2fXrE]Father Kicks Son Down Skate Ramp - YouTube[/ame]
* If you're interested in reading more on the subject, here is an article that was published in The Atlantic in 2011:
How To Land Your Kid In Therapy
For example, we force them to wear helmets while riding bikes and skateboards.
We prevent them from playing with sharp implements out of fear they'll harm themselves.
We make sure they're always under adult supervision, eliminating the opportunity for them to explore on their own.
In short, we take countless measures to protect them from every possible risk they might confront.
Child psychologists are becoming increasingly vocal that doing these things is not only unnecessary, but actually harmful to children. By protecting them from risks, we prevent them from developing the skills needed to handle life's challenges.
The following article in The Atlantic digs deeply into this issue...
The Overprotected Kid
The article begins by describing a playground that would horrify most mothers and many fathers. The playground is filled with items that put kids at risk (fire, unstable piles of tires, stacks of pallets, etc.). The idea is that children are best able to learn how to handle such items, along with the risks they introduce, through experience.
Here are a few pics:
The article is long, but it's a great read. If you're a parent and have 20 minutes to spare, I think you'll like it.*
A quick note of clarification... though I believe we coddle our kids to the point that they cannot handle life's challenges, I don't subscribe to the following parenting method:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXLdSL2fXrE]Father Kicks Son Down Skate Ramp - YouTube[/ame]
* If you're interested in reading more on the subject, here is an article that was published in The Atlantic in 2011:
How To Land Your Kid In Therapy
). I spent far too much time visiting our friend in the head trauma unit at the university hospital in Cadiz, surrounded by kids that will probably never wake up or will be vegetables for the rest of their lives.
