Our kids too wrapped in bubble wrap these days?

**PrincessBandit** · 15th September 2008, 19:50

Just watching 60 minutes and the article is on kids having fun with ......shock horror...... all the associated pc osh stuff missing!!!! How refreshing to see kids in the item having fun (exhibited by all the laughing and huge grins on faces) without all the risk taking being removed. Reminds me of the old "kids losing immunity to germs because they're not allowed to eat dirt or grass" sort of thing. The question being asked is "what's wrong with getting hurt?" and allowing children the opportunity to have their fun without the big bogeyman of "you musn't do that because you might get hurt" being held over their heads. Wow. Reminds me of my childhood - osh would have had a field day with the sorts of things we used to get up to but we survived and had fun doing it!!
Golly gosh, common sense might even make a welcomed return.

**Pussy** · 15th September 2008, 19:55

Sign of the times, unfortunately, PB
When I was a kid (and I'm older than you, you little whippersnapper

), my Mum had heaps of trouble trying to get me inside the house... didn't sit on my arse all day playing computer games...
I just wish she had discouraged me more from watching bloody topdressing planes...

**oldrider** · 15th September 2008, 20:27

The second half of the program is a classic case of the NZ double standards when it comes to "protecting" our children.

No climbing trees, playing bullrush, rafting in the rivers but hours and hours of crap violent TV viewing.

All produced in New Zealand and now "proudly" being sold overseas to feck up other nations kids. Shheeeeesh bloody rubbish!

This country has some crazy mixed up values. (IMHO)

John.

PS: Pussy, nothing wrong with watching topdressing planes, did a lot of it myself. (in fact we did everything and anything when we were kids, total freedom!)

**ynot slow** · 15th September 2008, 20:41

Haha,went to school with TeKaue?Wano(guy whose kids were enjoying playing games),back then the other half of the Wano twins alias Rodney and Craig as called then.Can fully relate to what he said,at primary school we used to play rugby,soccer,bullrush at every time available,also can remember trying to see who could kick a rugby ball over the Convent church(about 70' high lol)managed to break the odd window though.

Nowadays we are too PC,including kids spending too much time PC(computer/playstation)rather than going out and getting dirty,scratched,getting the odd bone set or stitches.

**maybe** · 15th September 2008, 20:52

Let the kids learn have fun somtimes maybe even hurt themselves, thats what life is all about.

**pete376403** · 15th September 2008, 21:05

Kids need to learn that actions have consequences.
To many kids grow up now never having hurt themselves. When they get a car (or bike) they believe they're invincible. Sadly, many find out that they are not.

And yes my kids, both boys and girls, grew up doing risky and (within reason) dangerous things. One broke an arm falling out of a tree, the others got through ok.

They've turned into pretty well adjusted adults.

**Genestho** · 15th September 2008, 21:07

I agreed with this, how are the L Platers supposed to grow up confident outgoing and pushing their own boundaries, non pasty faced/ non wimpy if they dont experiment?

So what if the schools dont like kids climbing trees and skateboarding, Im confused..isnt that what a home and parenting is for?

If I want my boys to have big confident balls...

Im not useless, I can supervise as they climb trees, maybe even climb it with them, so they learn how to grab the fat branch, not the skinny one.

Its all about teaching them to test and know their boundaries.
Because when theyre P platers they'll need to know how to deal with life and dickheads, and with a background of confidence, maybe as a parent I can give them one of the biggest gifts of all?

**skidMark** · 15th September 2008, 21:09

My childhood, hmmm the osh man wouldve had a heart attack...

Big tree huts, afore mentioned tree fell on grandma's car...

Me and the neighbour racing our homemade wooden gokarts down the street, hitting them into powerpoles at 30kph....neighbour and his brother once fpliiped their one and got trapepd inside it, that was funny.

hmmm what else, scaling cliffs at grandmas place up north then me sliding down a near vertical cliff for 30 metres and landing on the rocks in the water below.

ummm im sure there was plenty more silly shit, and i turned out a respectable member of society, right?

**BIGBOSSMAN** · 15th September 2008, 21:11

Yeah, bring back Bullrush I say! I always used to be the last boy standing...

**Gareth51** · 15th September 2008, 21:15

I shudder at some of the things we used to do as kids ,crawling through 15inch stormwater pipes to get get to the other side of the road ,jumping from the tops of 60ft pines trees to the next etc. etc. Its where you get your life skils from.

And what about going for a ride on a hot summers day,teeshirt,shorts,jandels
and no helmet(had to wear something on the feet to kick the old girl over)

**Genestho** · 15th September 2008, 21:21

Originally Posted by Gareth51

I shudder at some of the things we used to do as kids ,crawling through 15inch stormwater pipes to get get to the other side of the road ,jumping from the tops of 60ft pines trees to the next etc. etc.

And what about going for a ride on a hot summers day,teeshirt,shorts,jandels
and no helmet(had to wear something on the feet to kick the old girl over)

mmm laying in branches at the tops of trees in swaying wind, bullrush, and when my knees smacked my chin after jumping off the shed, and realising I didnt want to jump off anything that high again, sitting on the back of a ute, and those spinning round and round thingys at parks, and when you got off you couldnt walk straight, climbing on old rusted truck wrecks at my park and pretending to drive them, jumping into rivers...etc etc...

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 15th September 2008, 21:32

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

Just watching 60 minutes and the article is on kids having fun with ......shock horror...... all the associated pc osh stuff missing!!!! How refreshing to see kids in the item having fun...

watched that at totally agreed with them... fuck when I was younger we did all that shit bumps bruises, cuts and grazes and stitches but fuck we had some fun...

**Trumpess** · 15th September 2008, 21:37

Ahhhh ... i remember those days so well!
They were fun!!

I cringe watching my kids play. Half the time they are so into what they are doing, consequence dosent even enter the equasion!

**Swoop** · 15th September 2008, 21:44

Originally Posted by BIGBOSSMAN

Yeah, bring back Bullrush I say! I always used to be the last boy standing...

You just might have something there BBM.

Why not run a "New Zealand Bullrush Championships", just to piss off the PC brigade!

**BIHB@0610** · 15th September 2008, 21:46

I knew we'd done a good job when we got a new confidence course built at my kids' school (I was president of the PTA

). I pushed the plans through council real quick (it's not what you know, but who you know!) 'cause I knew the playground standards were about to change - they were going to get a lot tougher/safer - shame.

The first week the course was open two kids broke their arms

Five years on, kids are still having a blast on it