The school run.

[Julia9054]

That kind of paranoia is extremely unhealthy. At some point children have to be allowed out alone and you can't keep imagining the worst - trust me, I've done it!
My children walk 21/2 miles each way to school, leaving home before 7.30am and getting back some time after 4pm - depending on their dawdling.
They are statistically more likely to be abused by somebody we know and trust than a stranger. So add that to your list of things to worry about.

Parents know their own children, local area and hazards best. Some reach "sensible and aware of their surroundings" at an earlier age than others. We lived close to my children's primary school but it involved crossing a very busy road with no pedestrian crossing. I judged that mine were not capable of dealing with that by themselves until they were 10/11.
My sister and I were approached by a man with his penis out on our way home from school by ourselves aged 10 and 7.

 

[Drago]

I heard that you had a stoke...

...but your sister couldn't reach!

 

[swee'pea99]

Parents know their own children, local area and hazards best.

Well, up to a point. But when people start being guided by this kind of deranged thinking, utterly divorced from reality....

whatever kind of weirdos are out there, they will watch kids for weeks and assess their routines.

...you have a sure recipe for infantalised blimp-kids. Which, according to the obesity stats, is what we seem to be raising.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Well, up to a point. But when people start being guided by this kind of deranged thinking, utterly divorced from reality....



...you have a sure recipe for infantalised blimp-kids. Which, according to the obesity stats, is what we seem to be raising.

Ooh you know it all don't you? In fact both of my boys are sport mad and lean as racing snakes. But well done for getting personal on a subject you know nothing about

 

[Electric_Andy]

That kind of paranoia is extremely unhealthy. At some point children have to be allowed out alone and you can't keep imagining the worst - trust me, I've done it!
My children walk 21/2 miles each way to school, leaving home before 7.30am and getting back some time after 4pm - depending on their dawdling.
They are statistically more likely to be abused by somebody we know and trust than a stranger. So add that to your list of things to worry about.

It's not paranoia. You think that a 10 year old and a 4 year old can walk to school on their own, crossing 1 major and 3 minor roads? No need to worry eh, accidents only happen to other people right? All those poor kids who have been killed over the years by doing the right thing (walking on the pavement) but a van has reversed out from a driveway without looking properly and crushed the kids? I know they need to be trusted at some point, but it is too soon for my kids, in my area, both of which I know better than you

 

[swee'pea99]

Ooh you know it all don't you?

Nope. But I do know that a third of 10-11 year olds and over a fifth of 4-5 year olds are overweight or obese, which wasn't the case before pedo-paranoia set in. FWIW, I think a 4 year old is far too young to walk to school unaccompanied by an adult, but that doesn't change the fact that far too many parents worry themselves far too much about absurdly exaggerated threats to their children, while massively underestimating the very real threats posed by things like getting no exercise or learning to look after yourself.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Nope. But I do know that a third of 10-11 year olds and over a fifth of 4-5 year olds are overweight or obese, which wasn't the case before pedo-paranoia set in. FWIW, I think a 4 year old is far too young to walk to school unaccompanied by an adult, but that doesn't change the fact that far too many parents worry themselves far too much about absurdly exaggerated threats to their children, while massively underestimating the very real threats posed by things like getting no exercise or learning to look after yourself.

I'm not disputing the fact that a sedentary lifestyle is bad and that some parents don't pay it much attention. What I am saying is that there are very real dangers associated with regular and unaccompanied journeys to school by small children. I am also stressing the point that just because my kids don't walk to school, doesn't mean they are not fit and healthy.

 

[Drago]

It's not paranoia. You think that a 10 year old and a 4 year old can walk to school on their own, crossing 1 major and 3 minor roads? No need to worry eh, accidents only happen to other people right? All those poor kids who have been killed over the years by doing the right thing (walking on the pavement) but a van has reversed out from a driveway without looking properly and crushed the kids? I know they need to be trusted at some point, but it is too soon for my kids, in my area, both of which I know better than you

That's a good argument for walking to school with them, not driving them.

 

[Electric_Andy]

That's a good argument for walking to school with them, not driving them.

That's a fair point (I'm guessing because number of road deaths in cars?), but it's about perceived risk. Not even statistics can paint a 100% true picture of risk, but when you throw people's perceptions into it, it's even more complex. For example, my wife won't leave the slow cooker going when no-one is in the house, but she is happy to leave the tumble drier going.

 

[Drago]

What's the perceived risk in walking kids to school? It's an enjoyable stroll, not a mission behind enemy lines in ISISistan.

 

[Sandra6]

I

It's not paranoia. You think that a 10 year old and a 4 year old can walk to school on their own, crossing 1 major and 3 minor roads? No need to worry eh, accidents only happen to other people right? All those poor kids who have been killed over the years by doing the right thing (walking on the pavement) but a van has reversed out from a driveway without looking properly and crushed the kids? I know they need to be trusted at some point, but it is too soon for my kids, in my area, both of which I know better than you

Your four year old, no, obviously not. But ten is a reasonable age to walk alone. Obviously that's not practical for you - but that doesn't mean they'd be snatched or mowed down should you loosen the apron strings.
People get killed cycling, it isn't going to stop me riding my bike. Or driving in a car. Or walking up the stairs for that matter.
Everything carries a risk.

 

[Julia9054]

I heard that you had a stoke...

...but your sister couldn't reach!

Hilarious. Nobber.

 

[Electric_Andy]

What's the perceived risk in walking kids to school? It's an enjoyable stroll, not a mission behind enemy lines in ISISistan.

No, the risk is letting them walk to school alone. Walking with them is fine

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Risk?

On Thursday a herd of dairy cows and their bull escaped onto the local Greenway during the school run. It provided lots of excitement for us all and I got to see what my cargo bike would look like with brown walled tyres thanks to the free 'paint job'.