Nanny Leaving Child Alone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't leave a 5 yr old unattended for 10 minutes

My 5 yr old plays outside with the neighborhood kids for as long as 30min unattended. I have very confident and aware kids.

I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's amazing how much responsibility a child can take on when given the chance to gain confidence and pride in themselves. I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

Those 4 year olds aren't out there because their parents are trying to instill confidence and pride in their children, they are out there because they have to be. if the parents had another option to assist them with animal caretaking besides their young child, the parents would use that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't leave a 5 yr old unattended for 10 minutes

My 5 yr old plays outside with the neighborhood kids for as long as 30min unattended. I have very confident and aware kids.

I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's amazing how much responsibility a child can take on when given the chance to gain confidence and pride in themselves. I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

"I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's heartbreaking to see what children from desperately poor families in third world countries have to endure even at such an early age to survive. I realized how blessed my kids are for not having to work in fields alone as toddlers to support their family. On the other hand, I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't leave a 5 yr old unattended for 10 minutes

My 5 yr old plays outside with the neighborhood kids for as long as 30min unattended. I have very confident and aware kids.

I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's amazing how much responsibility a child can take on when given the chance to gain confidence and pride in themselves. I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

"I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's heartbreaking to see what children from desperately poor families in third world countries have to endure even at such an early age to survive. I realized how blessed my kids are for not having to work in fields alone as toddlers to support their family. On the other hand, I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

I fixed it for you. you are welcome.

You need to get out more.

I'm from Germany and think American children are infantized way too long.

I have a friend from German. Her son go to school everyday by himself. They now in USA. Everyday she need to drive her son to school. Why? because here is NOT safe! NOT SAFE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't leave a 5 yr old unattended for 10 minutes

My 5 yr old plays outside with the neighborhood kids for as long as 30min unattended. I have very confident and aware kids.

I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's amazing how much responsibility a child can take on when given the chance to gain confidence and pride in themselves. I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

There is not a chance I'd allow a 5 year old to be unattended for 30 minutes alone. That is neglect.

Um, no, that's called not being a helicopter parent (or nanny as the case may be).

An 18-month-old is a completely different story, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't leave a 5 yr old unattended for 10 minutes

My 5 yr old plays outside with the neighborhood kids for as long as 30min unattended. I have very confident and aware kids.

I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's amazing how much responsibility a child can take on when given the chance to gain confidence and pride in themselves. I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

"I used to live in Nairobi and when you'd get out into the countryside you'd see kids that appeared as young as 4 attending to animals in the field. It's heartbreaking to see what children from desperately poor families in third world countries have to endure even at such an early age to survive. I realized how blessed my kids are for not having to work in fields alone as toddlers to support their family. On the other hand, I don't think it is healthy to hover over our children as much as we do in this day and age. I see so many American kids (and parents) utterly terrified of the world around them.

I fixed it for you. you are welcome.

You need to get out more.


I'm from Germany and think American children are infantized way too long.

I am actually from Europe too. I was in Germany this summer and did not see any toddler working in the fields alone, maybe German parents are cuddling their kids too much and should learn from poor rural Kenyans how to instill pride in their kids.

[Anonymous]

Is there room for American parents to lighten up and give kids more independence at younger ages?

Of course.

Is the ideal to have four year olds working?

Of course not.

There is room for nuance in this discussion, let's get real. And anyway, this has nothing to do with OPs question about an unsupervised, unsecured 18 month old.