What do you think: totally dangerous or long overdue?

“Take Our Children to the Park…& Leave Them There Day” Are You In? FreeRangeKids

[Quantum_Leap]

Um, it's a great idea in THEORY, but advertising it ahead of time all over the internet like this just sounds like a big shout-out to sexual predators. "Hey! There'll be a whole bunch of unsupervised kids all gathered in this park on the same day, free for the taking!" Going out to the park on your own to play with your friends is supposed to be casual, unplanned, and unpublicized.

Also, btw, Cori, you need to stop changing your user name. It's confusing me.

[lilbittyone]

For some reason I have a feeling if I took and left my kids there (if they were older), they'd organize all the other children to revolt against the parents and claim the park as their own refusing to leave when it was time.

[**Badfish**]

Originally Posted by brui77

Um, it's a great idea in THEORY, but advertising it ahead of time all over the internet like this just sounds like a big shout-out to sexual predators. "Hey! There'll be a whole bunch of unsupervised kids all gathered in this park on the same day, free for the taking!" Going out to the park on your own to play with your friends is supposed to be casual, unplanned, and unpublicized.

This was my exact thought. Also, I was at the park yesterday and there were a few unsupervised kids there in that age bracket and they were acting CRAZY. I almost said something because their "play" was making me uncomfortable. Two boys had a girl restrained up against some equipment with her arms held behind her back. One of them was fully pressed up against her. She was laughing, so I let it go, but dayum. I don't want my child playing like that.

Originally Posted by lilbittyone

For some reason I have a feeling if I took and left my kids there (if they were older), they'd organize all the other children to revolt against the parents and claim the park as their own refusing to leave when it was time.

Lord Of The Flies.....

[Beneath_The_Rose]

It would depend on the age. When I was 11-12 I was allowed to go to the park by myself. (it was very very far from my house to. I had to be dropped off and then picked up) I think depending on the child that's an acceptable age. I wouldn't leave anyone elementary school age though by themselves at the park. Not so much because of predators but just the fact that they could get hurt. A lot of parks (at least where I was from) always seemed to be near water and such and of course busy streets and It would be dangerous.

[~Kris~]

I think it's great to encourage parents to take their kids outside to play, but I don't quite get why they encourage it to be unsupervised play. Parents can be around without hovering over the kids.

I remember my parents (or at least mom if it was during the day) would be weeding the flower gardens, working in the veggie garden, cutting the grass, etc while we played outside. We also had times she would be right inside the ouse while we played in the backyard, but she babysat kids and there were always a dozen or so of us out there.

I love summertime with the kids (and spring and fall when it is warm enough) and being able to get them outside. We spend most of the day outside when possible-playing, walking, biking, etc. Today we've been stuck inside all day because of rain and I'm going crazy!

Originally Posted by brui77

Also, btw, Cori, you need to stop changing your user name. It's confusing me.

LOL, It was either that or "Saffron Yellow Rice"

Originally Posted by ~Kris~

I think it's great to encourage parents to take their kids outside to play, but I don't quite get why they encourage it to be unsupervised play. Parents can be around without hovering over the kids.

Exactly; there can be a happy medium.

[mrsrrjgandmx]

I would not do this with either of my children however when I was in that age range my sister and I were allowed to go 10-15 minutes away from home, alone, to go to the park or ride bikes as long as we were in by the time the street lights came on.

I hope that nothing bad happens due to the publicity of this event worldwide and that everyone has a great time.

Hm. my neighborhood does this daily. Every day there are children as young as six at the park without a parent or even older sibling in sight. Kind of freaks me out a little to be honest. I can see kids old enough to REALLY know not to help some stranger find his "lost puppy," but these kids always seem a bit young. on the other hand, every single one of them asks me if my dog bites before approaching it.. and that's a good thing.

I don't really get why they're supposed to leave the children unsupervised at the park, though. What exactly does that accomplish?

Originally Posted by Tofu Bacon

LOL, It was either that or "Saffron Yellow Rice"

I do think Tofu Bacon was the better choice!

I get people want to feel empowered about taking back their community and not allowing sexual predators to rule their lives. I'm just not sure this is the way to do it. Kids need boundaries, and guidance to feel safe. I'm curious for the day when I can read a book on the park bench while my dd plays on the playground without me. I think that is a happy medium but that may change.

[beck12]

Heck I wasn't allowed to cross the street alone at 7.....We did play outside all the time though - all year round too. My mom pushed us out that door every chance she had. For me 7 seems barely old enough to play in the neighborhood unsupervised...I don't think I would be okay with Jonah in our yard (we are on a corner, so our back yard is fully exposed) playing alone. Maybe that will feel different when he is bigger though - it's just hard to imagine though...

[Quantum_Leap]

Originally Posted by Keskes

I don't really get why they're supposed to leave the children unsupervised at the park, though. What exactly does that accomplish?

Well, I think the point is that when parents take their kids to the park, the parents usually end up wanting to leave within an hour or two hours. The kids just don't end up getting that all-encompassing, 'free-range' outdoor experience that describes my childhood and probably that of many of the rest of you growing up -- running around outside ALL day, EVERY day during the summer, coming and going from neighbor's house to park to wherever else as I pleased, usually barefoot, only showing up back home at random times when I got hungry. I do want my kids to have that experience someday when they're old enough, because there's no real substitute for it. I'm just not sure if a highly publicized and organized event in a central, easily accessible location is the best way to go about it.

[ctanis]

I do not think it is appropiate for a 7 year to be unsupervised at the park for any length of time. I do not know I would feel comfortable till they are maybe in there teens. I take my kids to the park all the time. Sometimes it gets a little boring but its ok. I usually run around with them going down the slides and swing etc... Who says the playground is just for kids.

By the time a kid is in their teens, they aren't going to the park anymore.

However, in the article she talked about just walking around the block if that's all you're ready for. it wasn't like leaving them there all day without you was a requirement to participate. In MY neighborhood, I might be okay walking around the block while my 8 or 9 year old is at the park. Maybe.

[ctanis]

Originally Posted by Keskes

By the time a kid is in their teens, they aren't going to the park anymore.

However, in the article she talked about just walking around the block if that's all you're ready for. it wasn't like leaving them there all day without you was a requirement to participate. In MY neighborhood, I might be okay walking around the block while my 8 or 9 year old is at the park. Maybe.

To the bolded you would be surprised. There are plenty of teens that hang out at the park aroud here

I'm just now becoming okay with ds playing in the yard alone for a little while, but we have designated areas for where he is allowed to be when he's alone (where I can see him out the windows) and I check on him now and then to make sure he's okay. He understands the rules, and as long as he follows them he can continue to play outside alone. As much as I'm not completely comfortable with it, its more about me worrying about what other people think than anything else. But he gets so much confidence from knowing I trust him enough. But to leave him at the park? No way; he is a completely different person when he is out of his comfort zone and around new people.

I guess I don't see choosing the park as a place to congregate as really 'going to the park." I always thought of 'going to the park" to include actually using the equipment as more than just something to sit on. I've never seen a teenager actually PLAYING at the park.. and then really what's the point of going? They can hang out on the corner lot too.

[ctanis]

Originally Posted by Keskes

I guess I don't see choosing the park as a place to congregate as really 'going to the park." I always thought of 'going to the park" to include actually using the equipment as more than just something to sit on. I've never seen a teenager actually PLAYING at the park.. and then really what's the point of going? They can hang out on the corner lot too.

Haha some of the teens do though. My friends 14 yr old son does but then he has Autism to. I have seen teens use the playground equipment.

[fluffycheeks]

no way would I do this. I have a 7 year old. yesterday, we were at the park. She was playing with 2 of her girlfriends, and I was watching from a distance while I talked to my girlfriends. Some older kids (9-10 year old boys) came and I didn't think much of it. They were playing with and near the girls. After playing nicely for awhile, the started bullying the little girls, calling them names and pushing them. I was glad i was there to step in, I don't think that, at 7, she is old enough to protect herself, especially against older kids and adults. I can be where she is,on the other side of the park in a non-intrusive way so she can go about her business with her friends, without having to actually be hovering. But I'm there if she needs me, and that's the way it'll be for a looooong time.