But kids also need to experience the world firsthand to make it learn and grow.
How do you find the balance between freedom and protection when it comes to your kids?
This post originally appeared onA Fine Parent.
Raise your hands if you think we’re raising our kids in a dangerous world.
As such, overprotective parenting has become a lifestyle for many families.
But protecting your kids too much can be as detrimental as not protecting them enough.
But researchers are discovering that kids need more than supervised exercise: theyneed freedom.
They need to organize their own activities and not just follow adult direction.
Because our job as parents isn’t just to protect our kids.
It’s also to prepare them for life.
Here’s how we can stop being overprotective parents and give our kids the freedom they need to grow.
I understand this fear; I was raised on it.
My mother used to read me headlines from the newspaper about child murders and abductions.
I was afraid to walk into a store because I thought the cashier was a kidnapper.
I didn’t want them to grow up always looking over their shoulders in fear.
So I made a deliberate choice.
Is she prepared to resist a potential kidnapper?
I can’t be sure.
So much for the widespread belief that the world is more dangerous today for kids.
Most of the fears that lead us to restrict our kids' freedom are equally improbable.
It’s not worth the worry.
There are plenty of scary things thatarelikely to happen to your kids, from playground accidents to bullies.
How can you stop worrying about things like that?
it’s possible for you to’t child-proof everything.
Instead, you’ll trust your kids ability to handle those things if they do happen.
Is your child too young for you to start moving away from constant worry and over-protectiveness?
If you ask me, the answer is nono matter how old your child is.
But don’t feel like you have to pad every corner and block every stair.
Teach your baby not to touch the stove and to be careful on the stairs.
The sooner he can learn to explore safely, the less you’ll need to worry.
To me, this seems more dangerous than letting my toddler climb without help.
Understand the Danger of Avoiding Risk
Everything has a cost.
You might think that keeping your child closely supervised and contained is the safest choice.
Yes, the world is dangerous.
But rusty nails will probably not kill your kids.
What one thing could you start to let her do on her own?
What’s the worst that could happen if he tried it?
Can you let him practice it in a safer way first?
Risk is part of life.
You might be amazed to discover how ready they are to handle it!
She enjoys walking to the playground while drinking copious amounts of coffee.
Image adapted fromSvetlana Ivanova(Shutterstock) andNemo(Pixabay).
Photos byGadgee Fadgee,Guian Bolisay,Scott Miller(Flickr).
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