Following up on the last post, here is another WSJ editorial, "Why Safe Kids Are Becoming Fat Kids" by Philip Howard. He complains about the constant reigning in of child's play in the name of safety (but, in reality, of legal liability). For instance, Broward County, FL has outlawed running at recess. What is recess without running?!His thesis: When play is robbed of risk, it's no fun to be outside. When it's no fun to be outside, kids stay inside. When they stay inside, they get fat. And that's not the only problem facing too-safe kids.
Risk is important in child development. Allowing children to test their limits in unstructured play, according to the American Association of Pediatrics, "develop[s] their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength." Scrapes and bruises are how children learn their limits, and the need to take personal responsibility.On a related note, NPR had a wild story about a camp in California meant to counter just this impulse in parents. Here's a description of the story:
Software engineer Gever Tulley felt that his friends who were parents were overprotective of their children. So he started the Tinkering School, a summer camp that encourages kids to play with fire, throw spears and take risks.Apparently, parents have to sign a release of liability form that says they understand their child could be seriously injured or die while at this camp. I have to admit -- I'd be skeptical about sending my child there. Give it a listen.
3 comments:
Dave. Your comment on Theologica about the ESV study bible was HILARIOUS. I sat here at my computer and laughed out loud. By myself.
Thanks for embarrassing me, you jerk.
A simple recommendation for you Dave... take Journalism 101. Always give and quote your sources accurately when reporting them. I don't know about the other information you shared on your blog, but I recently reported on the NON-PROFIT organization The Thinking C.A.P.P. Foundation (the home of the safety character Mr. No-No) and there is nothing ANYWERE on their website that states they sell signage for playgrounds. They offer parents and teachers a simple and effective way to keep their children safe from dangerous products and places by utilizing Mr. No-No on products and places. The character and concept was created with the theories of Piaget, Ericson and Gardner... world renowned child development theorist. Or are you suggesting the world’s most respected child developmental theorist are “Ridiculous?”
Keep up the good work Dave.
Anonymous... Thanks for the correction. I was looking for an image to accompany the WSJ article and clearly assumed to much from a quick glance at the website. I hope I'll be more careful next time. I don't want to further professional laziness, even in an amateur blog. I'll remove the commentary and let the image speak for itself.
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