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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't hover or follow my kids around. My kids play outside and have free reign on the cul de sac. My little kids can play outside with their older siblings, but the little ones cannot be a mile away from our home. My 11 year old can venture off with a few other neighborhood kids, but my 7 year old cannot.

I think it's truly odd that parents feel like letting very young kids play a mile away from home is somehow a critical developmental step in terms of fostering confidence and independence. There are many such mechanisms. How about let your kid order and pay for their own snack at Panera? We taught our kids from an early age how to read a menu, order and pay (and count change). That's a critical life skill. How about teaching your kid how to properly mow a lawn, rake leaves and shovel snow? Our kids can do this and now do it for neighbors. Great life skill.

I made the comment about what I consider selfish/lazy parenting because I've reached an age where I've witnessed a lot of selfish/lazy parenting justified as fostering independence or creativity. My pals who criticize organized sports and activities by citing too much pressure or not creative enough use excuses when the reality is that they don't want to be bothered with schlepping kids to activities and games because it cuts into their "me" time. These folks also tend to drink during their me time (cocktails as soon as they get home from work), so that's what prompted my comment. I'm not saying I think every parent does those things...but I happen to know a bunch of people who do...and I wonder if the Meitivs are those kinds of parents.

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I don't think of a six-year-old or a seven-year-old as "a very young kid".

Also, if your pals don't want to schlep kids to activities and games because they want time for themselves, why does it matter to you? (And yes, it also shouldn't matter to them if you do want to do it.)[b] I see nothing wrong, and a lot of things right, with telling my kid to go outside and find something to do because I'm busy inside. 
[/b]
And finally, if you've read or heard even one interview with Danielle Meitiv, you will know that the Meitivs have put more thought into their parenting philosophy than you and I put together. [/quote]

I agree.  I am not sure when it turned into bad parenting to tell your kids to play outside and come in for dinner.  It is healthy for both the kids and parents.  [/quote]

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