Calling all overprotective parents

[PreSchool Mama]

There's another post about over protective parents here, and I just found a video that's perfect viewing for those who want to cut the apron strings a little. It's not about leaving kids alone at home, actually it's about letting them do things that you would normally be terrified of exposing them to.

Here's a link to the video.

http://blog.ted.com/2007/12/gever_tulley_on.php

I am not sure I agree with all of it - It'll be a while before I can leave my son alone with a knife. But, a couple of things are definitely doable.

[kezabelle]

Great video! Hubby would love that :) I tend to be overprotective in some areas, but completely laid back in others - and this video suits me somewhat too :)

Our kids have been playing with fire, machinery, knives, tools and driving cars since they were tiny - they're farm kids and hubby is a very typical farmer. I have heard some horror stories over the years and he knows I'm not keen, but they are confident and competent children, and I know they wouldn't be if it wasn't for him.

I remember my daughter telling me how she'd driven the 4-wheeler into the fence, hit the restraining post and fallen off the back. Hubby explained that she drove through the gates when he opened them. I recall saying "She's not even 2 yet!" She's driven vehicles out of many bogs since being a preschooler.

Actually, now that we've left the farm, their life is much more 'normal' by today's standards :) As much as it means I can breathe a sigh of relief when they're out with daddy, part of me also wonders if I'm doing htem a disservice.

[crashtestwoman]

That video was excellent and I totally agree with everything he said.
I'm not overprotective at all and if I'm truthfull probably a bit slack in some areas. But it's good to know that some of my slackness was actually good for the kids. LOL.

[kezabelle]

I find that a lot now Deb - all these years of being a slack parent and now I'm in vogue! LMAO My MIL is a nurse and apparently the new trend in parenting is to step back and let kids learn and play by themselves. Parents find it very hard to let them and constantly interfere and try to 'help'. Kids learn more by working it out for themselves. She said the very first thing she thought of was "That's exactly how Kerrie is!" So, good to know I'm no longer just slack!

[PreSchool Mama]

Good to know I am not the only slack parent around here, LOL!

I think he makes some excellent points. I definitely want to try loosening the apron strings more.

[La Toriana]

excellent.

I know I am a little over protective in some ways... and laid back in others....

I need to let go a bit more at times i think

[LisaHarman]

I love his video and I will be sharing this with friends and family.

I tend to agree that we do make everything over protective for the kids and there comes a time where they have to experience things in order to learn. We do majority of the things that he is talking about.

One of my pet hates was when the kids started climbing a tree in our back yard. All's I could think of was broken bones. Funny thing though is I did it as a kid and never got a broken bone ever. So I losened up on that one.. haha.

We have tought the kids about the elements of fire and water and they understand the concepts of playing with both. I believe that is something that all kids should learn.

thanks for sharing this clip with us.. very good.

[kezabelle]

Lisa, my kids climb the trees here all the time and have fallen out of them several times - so far only broken skin rather than bones! :hehe: My concern there is I used to know a girl who fell out of a tree she was sitting in at 19 and is now in a wheel chair.

But, you also made me think of another thing, but I don't want ot hijack this one so I'll start a new thread...