Such a difference in times. I started school in 1946 in the country. There was no school bus. Two and one-half miles to school and everybody walked. When the snow was deep I had a horse to ride. We, too, had only one car but both my parents worked. Nearest bus to the city was 4 miles and my mom walked it every morning and every night so my dad could take the car because there was no bus to where he worked. I had a scooter and roller skates but wasn’t allowed to ride a bicycle because my mom felt it wasn’t something ladies do.
In the 1960’s my kids rode their bikes everywhere and also no helmet or knee pads. They were outside all day in the summer and only came home to eat, if they had skinned a knee and needed a band-aid or if it was getting dark. Never thought to worry about them.
Now when my grandson goes out to play it’s like he’s in a suit of armor and all the neighborhood moms are out watching their kids to make sure nothing happens to them.
I think it is more difficult now for older people like me because we have lived through and seen the erosion in so many areas.
My first grandson was born this spring and I feel sorry for him. He’ll likely never get to enjoy the kind of childhood I had. I realize now, mine was golden.
we would never have come home for a skinned knee, mom or grandma might have a chore to do that didnt involve re-injuring one’s knee!
Once they're old enough to make their own informed decison on the helmet, they can decide. Probably because they'll take it off as soon as they're out of my sight, anyway. Until then, they need to wear it because I'm the Dad and I say so. :-)
That'd be about it for playing helicopter parent. I took the kids up to the family farm for summer vacation this year. Only rules were 1) Don't go in the river by yourself and 2) Stay within earshot so you'll hear when I holler for lunch (or, conversely, I'll hear if they holler for me.....)
Soon as both of them learn how to swim well....hopefully by next year....Rule 1 goes out the window. :-)
They had a blast. Nothing like turning a kid loose to explore all day. We're headed back up again next year.
I agree that elbow or kneepads are overkill (I never wore them and won’t make my kids wear either), but a helmet is common sense. The brain is a vital organ and should be protected.
I’d rather buy a new helmet for a kid after a bad bicycle accident than be in the ER for emergency brain surgery.
i’m 60ish. we would bike all day. all my mom said was to stay off the main streets which was easy. no helmet or pads. i walked to the store often and walked to school until high school when i took public buses. i bought hotdogs one time and while i was getting my bike from the rack a dog stuck his head in the bag and stole the whole pack. i was mortified but parents though it was funny.
also every mom in the neighborhood could discipline you and that was before you got home.