Lack of independent play is creating mental health crisis among kids today -- and overprotective parenting is to blame

[Anonymous]

Life sucks for people with young kids. I’ve got unlimited funds and it still is insanely hard.

We weren’t designed to raise children with zero help. I’d love it if those from the 70s would tackle gun control rather than offering dumb obvious thoughts. Then we maybe could let our kids wander outside. Parenrs don’t want your thoughts.

Get to work or shut up (actually, and).

[Anonymous]

The rise of video games and mass shootings are likely reasons.

[Anonymous]

We live downtown. My kids cant play outside bc of guns, mentally ill homeless people and drugs, as well as insanely speeding cars, motorcycles and atvs. My older one now takes metro to school across town. It’s a bit of a wasteland for kids. I grew up with a lot of freedom in the 80s in a rural area. I havent over scheduled my kids at all, but it’s still sad. “There are no children here”… and it’s Halloween.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with this - but I think the problem is both overbearing parents AND parents constantly turning to screen time

Parents are turning to screen time because it’s impossible to do the adult life stuff and be your kids playmate. But you can’t just send them out, even though that’s what’s best for them.

It’s all interrelated

That and the fact that all these over-worked, undersupported parents still insist on having 3 kids in close succession. Of course that’s hard!

[Anonymous]

Most everyone who is replying here realizes that this would be beneficial for their child yet is coming up with excuses as to why they can't or won't do it. Kinda sad, really.

The first step to making this happen here is to drastically reduce screen time. That isn't easy but it then forces their hand. For our children, they will play some inside but there is only so much of that they will do until they go outside to play. Access to screens just short-circuits this dynamic. Also, we make regular visits to some of the bigger playground parks - there are always kids and they love these trips. Our kids are all under 12 and we've been doing this their whole lives so YMMV.

[Anonymous]

I WANT to just let my kids go out and play. It's all the other parents who would talk about my family behind our backs/ call CPS/ ring my door and tell me "did you know your kids are outside?".

I think it's a lack of friendships that really impacts kids. My kids have very few playdates because no one allows drop off playdates. And I don't have time to attend playdates with my kids. I can't stand when I ask another kid for a playdate and not only does the parent come, but they even bring siblings.

[Anonymous]

Hum….

[Anonymous]

My elementary school doesn't allow any kids of any age walk home by themselves. 5th graders still need parents to pick them up. I find this wild since we're a very local school in a safe area. No big streets to cross and we have a crossing guard. I telework, but I can't guarantee that I can always make school pickup times so I have to send my kids to aftercare. I wish they could just walk home.

It's sort of a snowball effect. Kids aren't trusted with anything and they can't ever be independent, even if you want them to be as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life sucks for people with young kids. I’ve got unlimited funds and it still is insanely hard.

We weren’t designed to raise children with zero help. I’d love it if those from the 70s would tackle gun control rather than offering dumb obvious thoughts. Then we maybe could let our kids wander outside. Parenrs don’t want your thoughts.

Get to work or shut up (actually, and).

Do you live in a high crime area? If so, your concerns are understandable. Otherwise, I think your fears are ruining their childhood. The chances are very very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My elementary school doesn't allow any kids of any age walk home by themselves. 5th graders still need parents to pick them up. I find this wild since we're a very local school in a safe area. No big streets to cross and we have a crossing guard. I telework, but I can't guarantee that I can always make school pickup times so I have to send my kids to aftercare. I wish they could just walk home.

It's sort of a snowball effect. Kids aren't trusted with anything and they can't ever be independent, even if you want them to be as a parent.

Wow that is wild. Public school? Our schools allow kids to just leave campus, just like in the old days.

[Anonymous]

Wow - I feel so validated in my parenting style thanks to this article. Hopefully other parents will start bringing their kids to the local playground to run wild instead of keeping them in structured activities or inside on screens all the time! So many gorgeous weather days when my kids are practically the only ones on the playground…

[Anonymous]

This thread is making me glad to live where I do. Relatively safe, lots of kids, it’s okay to wander, kids walk or bike home. Lots of time for free play. Traffic IS an issue so that worries. Otherwise it’s idyllic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life sucks for people with young kids. I’ve got unlimited funds and it still is insanely hard.

We weren’t designed to raise children with zero help. I’d love it if those from the 70s would tackle gun control rather than offering dumb obvious thoughts. Then we maybe could let our kids wander outside. Parenrs don’t want your thoughts.

Get to work or shut up (actually, and).

Parents aren’t letting their UMC kids because of guns? Crime is much lower than when kids used to roam freely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just heard this. I kept waiting for the person being interviewed to mention two income households as a reason that kids aren’t out playing unsupervised in the neighborhood. All the kids are in aftercare or daycare because both parents work. Have kids go play on Friday afternoon? Whose home on a Friday afternoon?

It’s this. Parents aren’t home. Kids are either with a nanny or daycare. Everyone is over scheduled. Kids do camps in the summer. The days of kids being at home to play and head outside are over. You’re almost looked down upon if you are a SAHM who chills at home during the summer and doesn’t have structured activities planned for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live downtown. My kids cant play outside bc of guns, mentally ill homeless people and drugs, as well as insanely speeding cars, motorcycles and atvs. My older one now takes metro to school across town. It’s a bit of a wasteland for kids. I grew up with a lot of freedom in the 80s in a rural area. I havent over scheduled my kids at all, but it’s still sad. “There are no children here”… and it’s Halloween.

.

You choose to live downtown. These are your priorities