[~*Bethy*~]

ok so this is sort of a rant sort of a realization to me on how my parenting skillz and my sisters butt heads...

I let my kids watch big kid movies like shrek, the goonies, never ending story, etc. But my sister on the other hand, doesnt let Logan (who just turned 4) watch thoes movies because "there is scary parts in there..." Morgan is 3 months younger than Logan (sisters kid) And Morgan understands a hellova lot more than Logan does. Is this because I dont shelter them? I let them eat pop tarts, and blow bubbles in their milk (at home only) But my sister, no so much...How do you force your kid into a little frame when they are ment to jump, run, play, scream and throw dirt?

Like for example, the other night, I rented "How to train your dragon" without even thinking that the vikings and fire breathing dragons MIGHT be scary, my kids LOVED that movie!! My couch has been Toothless the dragon ever since. My sister rented it, and Logan started crying in the beginning of the movie because it was scary...um...no its not? "Well it is to him" thats because you let it be scary IMO. Kids read into things way more than we know. am I right? So whos in the wrong here?

Im just confused...I think...LOL!! What do/dont you let your kids do when it comes to more big kid stuff? Im curious to see where my parenting skills differ from others. I think Im more open minded, and love it when Morgan is singing Lady Gaga in the van! Ian loves being a viking, batman, trolls (can you tell momma plays WoW?) Im just curious

~Beth

[*krista*]

Meh, I just think it is different parenting styles. I wouldn't say one is right or wrong. Obviously I don't have any that age, so I have no experience to draw on.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Also depends on the kids... my brother and I were raised the same way.... WAY different. He is the biggest scarried cat... 26yrs old and STILL has a light on when he sleeps. I'm a little more fearless, loved horror movies at a young age, he still can't watch them. So did she cause him to be more sensitive or was he naturally and she adapted to her child? Who's to say.

Nature vs nurture ...the endless discussion! LOL

[artisticmind]

i would say its all in the parenting choices. I let riley do things that other parents are like :gasp: I do it because i figure i can't shelter him from life in general. I keep him away from stuff that will obviously hurt him or affect him but he'll grow up and learn eventually

[**Jenn**]

I agree with Krista. Theres so many different ways to parent and you do what works for your kids.

My boys saw How to Train Your Dragon in the theater with my Mom and they had a blast! I let them play in the rain (when its warm out), jump in puddles, play in the mud, play-doh in the house, etc. I figure if it can be cleaned and they're not hurting themselves or anyone/anything what's the big deal.

Now I also know that Liam is scared easier than Lochy and there probably are things that are ok for Lochy to do/see that might not be for Liam. Liam in general is a lot more cautious and hesitant about just about everything and Lochy is more the jump in with both feet without looking kinda kid. So their personalities kind of lend themselves to different things. I think you just need to go with the flow and do what's best for YOUR kid/s.

[Mjp121212]

Tome as long as he's not hurting someone or himself....it's ok. AND if he is going to hurt himself, and he doesn't listen when I tell him him.....so long as it isn't going to kill him or cause lasting trauma then I let him learn on his own----example would be me telling him to NOT touch the cupcake pan because I just took it out of the oven and he would get burned....told him 5 times, he didn't listen. I stood back the last time watched him reach up and then watched him lightly burn his fingertips. He learned pretty quickly after that!

I let Brayden play WoW with me, he watches teen shows like icarly lol we watch anything so long as it doesn't have anything sexual or horrible language....I do try to avoid lots of violence just because.

[SandKmommy]

I agree with the other ladies. Seamus watches Nightmare Before Christmas, The Simpsons Movie, loves Bones, House and 2½ Men. He will say, "Ah thats scary" and act all scared then 2 seconds later he's laughing at the thing that "scared" him. As long as there isn't cursing every 2 seconds in a show or people completely buck nakkid I let them watch what they want (but then most my family is the same way). I let them distroy the house (something my mom gets mad at me at), but I wont let them jump on the couch or chair (bed is fine). They need to play and learn or they will learn one way and it may not be the way "YOU" choose for them to. We do cuss around the kids because I figure they will learn at school from all the other kids, so why not, and also tell them when not to say "bad words." (Seamus picked up a word we dont' say, the female "P" word and I'm guessing from school and told us boys don't have one... >.<)

[Mars]

Ditto what was said already!

[ANGWife]

Well, I guess I'm in the minority when it comes to more "big kid tv." Personally, Skrek, Spongebob (all nick shows for that matter) all annoy me. I think we all could agree that a 4 yr old doesn't need to be watching nudity or a lot of profanity. It's the attitudes, sexual innuendos (whether they understand them or not) and all the burp/fat jokes that make me turn it off. So I'm very strict on the tv/movies he watches.

But on the other hand, I never try to discourage him from freedom. I think if a child is not dirty then they aren't learning! I let him get muddy, soaking wet, food in his hair, etc.

How you raise your children is completely up to you and no one has any right to judge you (well unless it's endangering them haha).

Originally Posted by soImarriedAnerd

Also depends on the kids... my brother and I were raised the same way.... WAY different. He is the biggest scarried cat... 26yrs old and STILL has a light on when he sleeps.

I'm 26 yrs old and still sleep with a light on (unless DH is there). Horror movies give me terrible dreams. Hell, I'm even scared of the commercials for them!

But I'm also an adventurous person.

[~*Bethy*~]

thanks for the reassurance LOL

It just baffles me when I see her around Logan, how much more free minded I am. its not a bad thing, but she needs to let him grow up IMO.

Justine, you said it exactly: Nature vs Nurture!

[ShannonMVT]

I think it can be partly parenting style and partly just the way the kid is, like Angela said. So maybe he naturally is more afraid of things? If that's the case it's probably wise of her to limit things that frighten him or else she has to deal with the aftermath (nightmares, etc).
I do agree about playing in the mud, exploring, letting them be kids.
I know I personally struggle with when do I let him learn something on his own and when do I step in and intervene. Especially when it comes to relationships with other kids...pushing, grabbing toys, etc.

[Frozendesire]

Everyone has different parenting techniques and I think it just depends on the parent and the kid, like others have said

Curtis can watch most Disney movies (the animated ones) however there are parts that scare him or make him very sad. He picks up on emotions and really gets affected by certain things.

For me it's not a matter of what he can or can not do.. it's me guiding him, and helping him through situations. If he sees a scary part in a movie/tv show i don't rush to change the channel or turn it off. We cuddle and I talk him through it, that way he understands and see the end result (The bad guy getting in trouble for what he did or whatever it is). I find this helps better then shelter them yet you arent allowing them complete freedom either.

[Resi]

I don't think there is a right or wrong here. Each kid is different. Some DO scare easy and it has nothing to do with the parenting. Other kids are fearless and it's nothing to do with the parenting. Yes.. a kid can be scared of things because someone put that fear into them but that isn't always the case.

Oliver does have a lot of fears and gets scared of things easily. It's just the way he is. Maybe that is how your sister's child is too. You have no way of knowing unless you are that child's mother. That isn't sheltering to me. That is her way of parenting and she may not think it's appropriate at this time.

My child never watches movies, tv, or does any computer stuff at this age. It's not me trying to shelter him. It's my parenting style and I personaly don't believer in letting my child watch tv at this age.