How to Tell the Good Kids from Bad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I live in Columbia Heights. I was able to purchase a special "Bad Child Meter." Basically it's a lot like the wand that you see used in airports. We love it and have used it many times when our kids (ages 10 & 7) have asked for a questionable play date. At pick-up, I just ask our child to point out the child she wants to play with and then I go over and swing the wand in front of the classmate.
We ended up purchasing 2 wands, and I'd be happy to sell you one of them. We can meet up at The Coupe. Just email me at [e-mail]

The old-school way is just to hold a brown paper bag against their skin.

[Anonymous]

High SES folks don't live in Petworth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can tell the bad ones by looking for the mark of the devil on their skin. Usually right on the back of the neck or on the shoulder.

They have horns, which they may try to conceal with baseball caps or adorable little hair bows.

Yep---the bigger the bow, the bigger the potential danger

[Anonymous]

Can't believe people are giving the OP such a hard time. Could be a troll but it's a valid discussion point.

Not that I believe a kid can be "bad"- but you can tell the rough ones that you probably want to keep your children away from.

Look out for the frequent or even constant use of swear words, lack of manners, lack of empathy and violent outbursts.

Worth note - that there are plenty of higher SES kids who act this way.

[Anonymous]

This is where some dcum regular will chime in and ask why all you liberals see racism everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have recently moved into the area and now live in an up and coming neighborhood in DC (Petworth). Our 2 kids have started in a new pre-school and are starting to make friends.

Many of the children in the neighborhood come from a much more diverse background than we have been used to. We want to be open to people but are also very wary about exposing our young children to other families who face serious challenges.

It really concerns us how our children will be effected by other kids who have a much tougher home life. We don't want our children to have to experience (even second-hand) what deprivation, domestic violence or abuse mean. We understand that all of these issues effect many lower SES families in DC.

One way to protect our kids is to screen the other kids we let them spend time with, but we want to teach our kids to respectful to all.

How do other higher SES white parents protect their children's childhood living in the up and coming areas in DC?

Interested in how other parents are doing this. Tips for when they start Elementary school would be appreciated as well.

I was with you OP until I read this. I am also from a very white affluent area, but you will find people of all cultures here in all economic scenarios. If you want to teach your kids to be respectful start by just telling them to be kind to others and not to prejudge people.

[Anonymous]

Why not just pretreat your child with the DefCon to repel the bad ones.Be proactive. My mom sprays the door frame to keep the mosquitos away.

[Anonymous]

Op and other just move the hell out of DC, like seriously!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op and other just move the hell out of DC, like seriously!

Not sure what you are referring to- but people like OP are buying up DC. Get used to people living here who have higher standards and won't put up with what DC once was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High SES folks don't live in Petworth.

+1, but who are the folks buying $700k+ homes in that crime ridden neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

kids aren't influenced by peers in a serious way till age 8 (used to be later) so relax. My kid loves the bad kids (who btw, are as likely to be high ses white kids at his very racially and economically diverse school). These kids talk back to the teacher and are taken out of the room, and he is enthralled by them. If he likes a kid, we invite him over for a playdate. He never goes beyond the most facile imitation and himself behaves well in school, so what do I care. We have years before we have to worry about peer influence. There are studies that show when peers start to have as much or more influence over a kid's world view.



I do think this is a troll post btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op and other just move the hell out of DC, like seriously!

Not sure what you are referring to- but people like OP are buying up DC. Get used to people living here who have higher standards and won't put up with what DC once was.

Oh please, they can be who they want when they want. OP made the decision to live around ppl like that. It's her fault for subjecting her child to such surroundings.

[Anonymous]

Jesus Christ on a cracker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op and other just move the hell out of DC, like seriously!

Not sure what you are referring to- but people like OP are buying up DC. Get used to people living here who have higher standards and won't put up with what DC once was.

Oh please, they can be who they want when they want. OP made the decision to live around ppl like that. It's her fault for subjecting her child to such surroundings.

Yeah, OP should move her kids to Arlington. She won't have to worry about her preschoolers playing with any "bad" kids who have violence in their homes. Oh wait:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/464609.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:kids aren't influenced by peers in a serious way till age 8 (used to be later) so relax. My kid loves the bad kids (who btw, are as likely to be high ses white kids at his very racially and economically diverse school). These kids talk back to the teacher and are taken out of the room, and he is enthralled by them. If he likes a kid, we invite him over for a playdate. He never goes beyond the most facile imitation and himself behaves well in school, so what do I care. We have years before we have to worry about peer influence. There are studies that show when peers start to have as much or more influence over a kid's world view.



I do think this is a troll post btw.

OP here- and not a troll. Thank you for being the only one to thoughtfully answer my post.