We survived .....

[Two_Sheds]

when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a van - loose - was always great fun.

but we weren't overweight because......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

Ah, the rise of the motor car. The cause of so many of our problems now...congestion, obesity, pollution, death ... kids don't play outside in case they get run over...

[scared55]

Truly, the Lord giveth and the Ford taketh away again.

KK

[Peter]

.....and..Scared55....You were not alone.... I grew up without a television, car etc I was 15 (1985) before my mother bought a television. Boy, did I want one though!

We did not have a TV until the mid seventies and I was the odd one out at school as everyone else had one.

I read instead and listened to the radio.

[heebiejeebie]

Bet when you finally got a TV there was nowt on...

[pigletwillie]

For me the worst thing about today is that kids do not interact any more and hence do not make the network of "mates" that my generation did. Texting is no substitute for talking to someone face to face. Good communication is a dying art especially now that children are kept indoors.

[madmax]

PW, I have to whole heartedly agree. We are a product of the society we live in. Our kids spend too much time on the PC, cannot live without the internet, without their cell phones but they seem to exist well enough without fresh air, playing with mates in Honeyborough Green (not allowed to any more as old folk were complaining of 'thugs' milling about) and social interaction.

We have allowed a selfish, self gratifing and irresponsible society full of consumer greed to evolve. And the establishment feels safer with our 'dumbed down' shepherded values we have accepted - 700 channels of crud on your 52" plasma 'god box' graciously provided by Sky.

I think I will switch on one of my old jukeboxes now and listen to Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston from 1951...!! Ot is about an old car - a V8 Oldsmobile!

[greenlung]

If WE have produced a generation that is worse off, then WE haven't survived.

[chrissie the chippy]

My dad thinks I'm, what did he called me..... can't remember, but it wasn't nice, for saying I wont let my daughter play out.

In his day he would go to the woods, to the shore, all over, all day if he could! He had 2 older brothers and lots of friends though!!

Gwen hasn't got any older siblings to look after her, her friends don't play out and the ones that do, don't live near the kind of places kids should play (tower blocks and estates)

I do feel mean, I grew up near the country side and we were always playing in the brook

We try and do as much as we can with her outdoors, but it just isn't safe for her to go by herself. Such a shame she wont get to do what we did unless it's with us..... I'd like to think we compensate for it though, she loves the outdoors and we take her regularly and she has the allotment too!

It is sad that the country has gone all PC and ruined what used to be fun, although some of it is for the good (smoking, seat belts.... )

[Two_Sheds]

Good communication is a dying art especially now that children are kept indoors.

... like battery chickens. Don't worry, they'll be banned soon

[Two_Sheds]

I wont let my daughter play out ... it just isn't safe for her to go by herself.

Sorry folks, but its our fault. Its the car. 69% of parents don't let their children play out because of traffic, only 39% because of "stranger fear". We need to use our cars less.

Can it really be that simple? Please contradict me... you know you want to

[rustylady]

Yes, I'm going to contradict you (you knew I would). It's not the car, it's not just the consumer society - it is the total lack of morals and values. I was brought up to believe that you should look after yourself (and your children eventually), you should work if possible, you should save for what you want to buy (not get it on the plastic and worry about it later). Most of all you should take responsibility for what you do - not blame it on someone else.

[chrissie the chippy]

Sorry folks, but its our fault. Its the car. 69% of parents don't let their children play out because of traffic, only 39% because of "stranger fear". We need to use our cars less.

Can it really be that simple? Please contradict me... you know you want to

I didn't mean it in a horrible way, It is sad that she can't. Not sure how much traffic bothers me, I'd hope my daughter has good road sense. It just isn't the done thing anymore, there's no one to play out with. I do worry about strangers, that is something that will always worry me, every parent I'd imagine. Not just perverts, but a shear lack of human compassion and tolerance in general. Must admit, I worry too much, my prerogative I suppose

I don't know, when do people think it is a good age for children to 'play out'? My daughter is only 6 18 maybe?

[kirsty b]

My daughter has been playing out since 4. We have rules though. I live in the middle of a large estate, and reasonably far enough away from the main roads.
She is not allowed to go out of earshot, if she goes to knock for a friend, she is not to go without asking/telling me where she is going, and I give her 5-10 minutes before I wander round to check on her. If it's further than I would like, I walk there with her at the time. A lot of the time she plays where I can see her when I look out the window.
She is allowed to have friends round, or go round theirs for tea etc.
We have been teaching the green cross code since she could walk.
As soon as she gets home, she's out. She knows not to talk to strangers, and to tell me or Steve if somebody she doesn't know talks to her.
There are loads of kids her age around here, and as a result there is also a network of mums all looking out for their own and other people's kids.
The estate we live on used to have an awful reputation years ago, but now, we have a really nice community.
And she loves reading. I more often find her with a book than I do watching the box.

[madmax]

It is not the car that is at fault. It is the system we have allowed to develop. We need the car - it is a necessary evil. We have no credible public transport system, especially in rural areas. Unlike the European mainland... So we have to rely on the car.

I for one have a 3.5 litre V8 Rover. It was made 25 years ago so it's 'carbon footprint' is now absorbed. Unlike those who replace their tin boxes every 2-3 years adding to pollution (raw material supply, fabrication, delivery logistics et al ad nauseum).

As for the telly - we got rid of Sky TV yonks ago and our quality of life got better! Until we got broadband! And we only have a small 17" LCD TV. But the kids do love a good book. We try to encourage te kids to go out and play as often as possible. One is nearly 12 and the other is 16. They are well adjusted and know what to do and what not to do. God help them if they don't!

[TPeers]

Not a cause, but another symptom.....

When I was a kid, yes we went out to play etc... but we NEVER screamed unless we needed help. We were taught that to scream or yell was only to be done if urgent help was required. This ment that if one heard a scream or loud yell one always went to look and help if needed.

Now the kids all scream and yell, they get taught it in the school playgrounds. And no-one looks to see if there is a problem.........