No running with sticks .. or do you allow it? (6yo)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the other parents out there watching their kids? No one I know would be okay with that. It’s an accident waiting to happen…but other parents may not be paying attention.

I told a kid not to throw sticks at the park one day and the mom turned to me and said if they can’t do it at the park then where can they do it. And I’m like, ummm nowhere…!

Were they throwing it *at someone? Otherwise MYOB.

You throw stuff in the woods, not a park. That’s the issue.

[Anonymous]

Many parents are really lazy and stupid. Don’t use them as your barometer. Many don’t require car seats or bedtimes, they allow endless junk food and screentime.

Do what you feel is best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the other parents out there watching their kids? No one I know would be okay with that. It’s an accident waiting to happen…but other parents may not be paying attention.

I told a kid not to throw sticks at the park one day and the mom turned to me and said if they can’t do it at the park then where can they do it. And I’m like, ummm nowhere…!

Were they throwing it *at someone? Otherwise MYOB.

You throw stuff in the woods, not a park. That’s the issue.

Unless you have some gigantic wooded property, the woods *are* in the parks.
I mean, yeah, you shouldn’t throw sticks inside the playground area, but as long as you aren’t throwing them near other people, who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has honestly never come up for me. I have four kids, live in a suburban area with a lot of trees, go hiking and camping, etc. My kids will sword fight with sticks or get one to use as a walking stick. They roast marshmallows with them. They might throw one over a bridge to watch it float away.

I’ve never really seen them running around with sticks or just throwing them randomly at the park or in the yard. I can’t really picture what’s going on here.

They use one as a walking stick like your kids do but then get distracted by something on the other side of the playground. This, of course, means they must sprint at full speed to whatever it is, with whatever is in their hand at the time.

OP--I'm with you on this. I allow walking and playing with sticks, but no running or climbing with sticks. If I had less clumsy kids, maybe I would feel differently, but it also feels so unnecessary. No one needs splinters in the eye, and the kids can find more sticks when they're done running.

This really has never come up. First of all, you use a walking stick on a hiking trail, not a playground. Secondly, when kids get distracted, the first thing they do is drop the stick. They are forever losing their walking sticks.

[Anonymous]

This reflexive "no" is why kids and teens are filled with anxiety and incompetence.

My kids have been allowed to play with sticks (and stones) as much they want from birth, so they learned very young what is and isn't safe and I can trust them. If there is a crazy stick-wielding child on the playground, they avoid them and don't crave the conflict.

It's especially important for boys to play-fight in various ways without shame, and the more you create safe ways for them to do that while in your care and with your attention, the less likely they are to act out and go wild in school or recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always wrap my children in 4 layers of bubble wrap and anti-septic tape, every time they leave their bedrooms.

You can never be too careful.

Thank you, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always wrap my children in 4 layers of bubble wrap and anti-septic tape, every time they leave their bedrooms.

You can never be too careful.

You let them leave the bedroom?! What kind of nut are you? Too risky.

[Anonymous]

Most of you need a Xanax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This reflexive "no" is why kids and teens are filled with anxiety and incompetence.

My kids have been allowed to play with sticks (and stones) as much they want from birth, so they learned very young what is and isn't safe and I can trust them. If there is a crazy stick-wielding child on the playground, they avoid them and don't crave the conflict.

It's especially important for boys to play-fight in various ways without shame, and the more you create safe ways for them to do that while in your care and with your attention, the less likely they are to act out and go wild in school or recess.

+1. Sure I let them play with rocks and sticks. When they were little I watched them at the playground and made sure they didn’t hurt other kids. They’re much older now, and I assure you they’re mentally and physically healthy kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has honestly never come up for me. I have four kids, live in a suburban area with a lot of trees, go hiking and camping, etc. My kids will sword fight with sticks or get one to use as a walking stick. They roast marshmallows with them. They might throw one over a bridge to watch it float away.

I’ve never really seen them running around with sticks or just throwing them randomly at the park or in the yard. I can’t really picture what’s going on here.

They use one as a walking stick like your kids do but then get distracted by something on the other side of the playground. This, of course, means they must sprint at full speed to whatever it is, with whatever is in their hand at the time.

OP--I'm with you on this. I allow walking and playing with sticks, but no running or climbing with sticks. If I had less clumsy kids, maybe I would feel differently, but it also feels so unnecessary. No one needs splinters in the eye, and the kids can find more sticks when they're done running.

This really has never come up. First of all, you use a walking stick on a hiking trail, not a playground. Secondly, when kids get distracted, the first thing they do is drop the stick. They are forever losing their walking sticks.

🤷‍♀️ Sounds ideal that your kids drop the sticks without being taught to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has honestly never come up for me. I have four kids, live in a suburban area with a lot of trees, go hiking and camping, etc. My kids will sword fight with sticks or get one to use as a walking stick. They roast marshmallows with them. They might throw one over a bridge to watch it float away.

I’ve never really seen them running around with sticks or just throwing them randomly at the park or in the yard. I can’t really picture what’s going on here.

They use one as a walking stick like your kids do but then get distracted by something on the other side of the playground. This, of course, means they must sprint at full speed to whatever it is, with whatever is in their hand at the time.

OP--I'm with you on this. I allow walking and playing with sticks, but no running or climbing with sticks. If I had less clumsy kids, maybe I would feel differently, but it also feels so unnecessary. No one needs splinters in the eye, and the kids can find more sticks when they're done running.

This really has never come up. First of all, you use a walking stick on a hiking trail, not a playground. Secondly, when kids get distracted, the first thing they do is drop the stick. They are forever losing their walking sticks.

🤷‍♀️ Sounds ideal that your kids drop the sticks without being taught to.

It’s a lot harder to run with a stick that’s taller than you. You kind of have to do it on purpose.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I mean literally running around with sticks up and down the block and grassy area. Sticks like these:




Running and chasing each other running around playing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the other parents out there watching their kids? No one I know would be okay with that. It’s an accident waiting to happen…but other parents may not be paying attention.

I told a kid not to throw sticks at the park one day and the mom turned to me and said if they can’t do it at the park then where can they do it. And I’m like, ummm nowhere…!

I have 4 boys and they run around with sticks all the time. It seems totally harmless. They could also drown while taking a bath, choke on food, and get cancer. Let them live!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I mean literally running around with sticks up and down the block and grassy area. Sticks like these:




Running and chasing each other running around playing

Looks like fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t worry about my children getting impaled with sticks and don’t have any particular rules about it. We all have our weird stuff though.
I wouldn’t let my kids carrry glasses or ceramic coffee mugs as preschoolers. I was afraid they might fall, go to catch themselves, shatter the glass, and cut up the tendons in their hand.

Agree about all of us having weird stuff. I’ve never had a stick rule. But ropes drive me crazy. No playing with ropes