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Cappy
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 Posted: 04/06/03 - 16:41 Post subject: Parental Advice: Kids Playing Outside
Kim will be 7 in a few weeks, and has finally showed interest in playing with some of the neighborhood kids. Mike usually tags along but the Kim's friends don't seem to mind Mike's presence. The last few days I have been outside with them but kept my distance.
Question is am I being over-protective by being outside or is it normal. I am a little hesistant to leave them alone more because of Mike than anything. Right now there are no boys Mikes age for him to play with.
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airehead
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 16:52 Post subject:
I think you are perfectly ok being outside keeping an eye on them. That way all the neighborhood kids know that you are "watching" so they are less likely to misbehave.
I always did the same thing with Colin.
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Sahara
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 17:36 Post subject:
You're not being overprotective. I don't remember how old Mike is exactly (5?) but you're smart to keep an eye on him. That's exactly what I've done for each of mine. The protection is primarily for the youngest who is too young to be out there by himself.
As you become more comfortable with Kim playing outside with friends, you know... knowing that all the kids can handle themselves appropriately. If you find that at this age this group can't handle themselves without supervision, keep on providing it. You may feel comfortable letting her play in the yard without you perhaps by the end of the summer.
That's how it's worked for me at least.
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Sahara
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 17:41 Post subject:
Just thought I'd add something...
My eldest is 10 and there is one child in the neighborhood that I still go outside to stealthly supervise when they are playing together. This child has poor judgement and my daughter doesn't always remember to do what she knows is right. Liv is not allowed to play at their house because of this. The other parents are not involved in their kids' lives much.
My point is that you may discover that with certain kids more supervision is better.
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akern
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 17:47 Post subject:
I don't think you are being overprotective, especially for Mike's sake. While Kim is starting to get old enough to play somewhat unsupervised, its hard to expect her to completely keep an eye on her younger brother too.
Nichole has been playing outside for about a year now (she will be 8 in Sept.) without me being with her, but she knows where her boundaries are. If I can't look out the window and see her, she's in trouble.
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Cappy
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 17:49 Post subject:
| Sahara wrote: | You're not being overprotective. I don't remember how old Mike is exactly (5?) but you're smart to keep an eye on him. That's exactly what I've done for each of mine. The protection is primarily for the youngest who is too young to be out there by himself.
As you become more comfortable with Kim playing outside with friends, you know... knowing that all the kids can handle themselves appropriately. If you find that at this age this group can't handle themselves without supervision, keep on providing it. You may feel comfortable letting her play in the yard without you perhaps by the end of the summer.
That's how it's worked for me at least. |
Mike is 4. Jen is a little bit more laid back than I am. I think it will take a little bit of getting used to but I will be okay.
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keltic63
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 18:36 Post subject:
i spent several hours outside yesterday (froze my @$$ off too) but Sawyer and the neighbor boy, both 4 wanted to play. They must always be supervised, and the neighbor kid can be a terror. I was thinking about this too yesterday. I lost a lot of time "doing" things that needed to be done, just so these guys could play together. I'm not saying that it was wasted, I wasn't involved with the playtime, i was just sitting there. Yet I knew someone had to be watching them.....in the meantime mrs. keltic is watching the week's accumulation of videotaped soap operas  and even gave me a hard time about watching them while I took a potty break.........
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shelee
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 19:20 Post subject:
If the little one is out with Kim, I agree with you that you need to be out there. My daughter is 4 and I know my neighbors think I'm over protective new parent, but I watch her like a hawk when she's outside. As is the case with Sahara's child, Jules best friend is a tyrant and she copies his behavior.
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rolling rock
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Posted: 04/06/03 - 19:53 Post subject:
you're doing what i would have done. mike is way to small to be out there with the "big" girls by himself....it's not gonna be long and kim is going to say "Make him stay here"--he will officially be cramping her style. i was always out there with them, even if it was across the street on my butt on a lawnchair reading a book. i was a bit of a hawk i guess.
my youngest is 9 and i (still) watch for her when she is outside. if she is not where she is supposed to be, i will call her until she shows up. there's no way, even at nine, i can let her just be out there for any extended time without my eyes on her every so often. maybe i'm the overprotective one. 
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copteacher
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Posted: 04/07/03 - 07:08 Post subject:
I think Kim is okay, Mike still needs an eye though.
If they were playing in a fenced yard or inside someones house I would not mind as much.
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Sahara
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Posted: 04/07/03 - 09:10 Post subject:
| rolling rock wrote: | | my youngest is 9 and i (still) watch for her when she is outside. if she is not where she is supposed to be, i will call her until she shows up. there's no way, even at nine, i can let her just be out there for any extended time without my eyes on her every so often. maybe i'm the overprotective one. |
I don't watch my older two girls every moment, but they ask for permission to go down the street to friend's houses... or even next door. I need to know where they are (inside or out, who's there, etc.) On a typical weekend afternoon, I take a stroll or two to check on them. Like you, if they are not where they are supposed to be, they are in a bit a doo-doo with me.
We live on a quiet street with a cul-de-sac at the end. Two of my concerns are the teenagers and elderly drivers. Kids of 10 & 8 (and especially 6) still sometimes run into the street without looking.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 04/07/03 - 10:24 Post subject:
I know I'd never forgive myself if my kids were outside playing with no one watching and someone took them. It's a different age than when we were growing up.
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Cappy
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Posted: 04/07/03 - 12:16 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | | I know I'd never forgive myself if my kids were outside playing with no one watching and someone took them. It's a different age than when we were growing up. |
That's exactly why I am out there. I am far enough away to give them space but close enough to intervene should it be necessary.
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