What do you do when older parents - like grandparent aged folks - tell you how soft your child will grow up to be? I get it all the time at work: we didn't have mulch or rubber playgrounds. when you hit the concrete you broke an arm and learned to hang on better.<br><br>I struggle to not just yell Dammit it's called P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S!<br><br>Any thoughts on how to deal with these folks?

Progress is all in the eye of the beholder. Don't get me wrong, i'm siding with you on this one one-hundred percent. Advances in plastics and materials, along with the diligence of agencies dedicated to the safety of children on any level have brought the statistics down by ginormous numbers. Breaking down to how products are designed, when and why their recalled, what draws the line to whether it's safe or not to have, the list goes on and on. Soft kids are kids just the same, they'll grow up to be adults just the same. The scars they posess gained during childhood are more than likely coming out in a form of wisdom, or at least I hope. Taking it all with a grain of salt, there are products to this day on shelves that mothers and fathers buy, not really ever knowing if their safe. They use them and recommend them for one of two reasons. There's no reason to take them off the market, or someone knows, but they're too busy making money to care. As far as my own, I can handle bumps and bruises, the occasional stitch but broken bones on kids are a rarity and not seen too often. I've only seen 3 broken bones in kids between the ages of 0-10, ever. Two were explainable, one questionable. Why so little? Kids are hard to break. Their bones flex like rubber, i've seen it. Kids are not soft, not now nor were they ever, their upbringing has alot to do with whom they become, but it's up to the taller ones in the family to make the decision of whether something is safe or not. There are so many variables in a childs growing up, my Lord they never end. The only one I see relavent though is the pure wisdom of the parents.<br><br>Bri-

And it took days/weeks to get from city to city in a horse drawn carriage in those days too. Or perhaps Yea, and cocaine used to be considered a miracle drug.

To a certain degree, I kinda agree that, by overzealously protecting children, we may seriously be hampering their development. Bumps & bruises are just natural byproducts of healthy risk-taking — of kids trying new stuff & learning limitations, and developing new skills.<br><br>Funny enough, there's an interesting concept called risk homeostasis that suggests that people have an innate target level of acceptable risk which does not change — that is, when a playground area (for example) is made safer, kids simply find new ways to use (and abuse) it, generally keeping the rate of playground-induced injuries constant.<br><br>I do believe that, in making playgrounds safer (i.e. less lawsuit-prone), we've stripped much of the fun & learning opportunities out of them too. I really mourn the fact that playgrounds no longer have merry-go-rounds and other cool stuff that we had as kids. I've gotta admit though, I really like some of the new playground stuff that's been developed, like the rope bridges, rock-climbing walls, and corkscrew slides.<br><br>To answer the main question about people telling me that my child is going to be soft when he grows up, I'd most likely tell 'em to poop off! (Ok, I probably wouldn't say poop, but again, this is a family forum...)

Picture them in nothing but their oversize, baggy white undergarments.<br><br>Actually, that technique just made my throw up in my mouth a little.<br><br>My powers to provoke epiphantic, party-changing conversions with the devastating wit of my arguments has proven time and time again to be utterly useless when used on geezers. I have decided to just smile and nod.

Depending on what generation your parents are will definitely determine how they react too. My grandfather, who grew up during the Great Depression, was always doom and gloom. He saved everything and frowned upon any change no matter good or bad. So it might just be that they are stuck and that's how they are and all you can do is nod and smile. I agree with many of you on this in multiple ways. I can't argue that things like bike helmets and wrist guards are smart because stuff happens and you don't want your kid to get a concussion every time they get fall off their tricycle. However, I like Rob's comment that kids will be kids in the fact that if they jump off something and it doesn't hurt, they'll keep doing it and try to jump higher until it does. No matter how much we protect our kids, I don't think we should coddle them. I feel that it is better for kids (of all ages) to learn the boundaries earlier when you are with them and active in their lives versus when they are out with friends or on their own later in life and end up doing something stupid. Now I know this deviates from the ideas of just having a soft kid and more into psychoanalysis of troubled teens but it all starts somewhere right.

When I was a kid, all we had to play with was a pointed stick and broken glass.... We were tough then!!!<br><br>Yeah, ok seriously. We learn from our mistakes. Kids should be able to do that too, within reason. We have an over litigious society that encourages a sense of self entitlement and lack of personal responsibility. Playgrounds should not be required to have padding, parachutes and personal injury waivers, however, they should have safe equipment and surrounding grounds.<br>- one of my boys managed to get a concussion in our backyard (without play equipment, sticks or rocks) by just running into another kid he was playing with (then hitting the ground).<br>I do agree with Uncle Sutts : Soft kids are kids just the same, they'll grow up to be adults just the same. The scars they possess gained during childhood are more than likely coming out in a form of wisdom, or at least I hope.<br>Sorry for all the disconnected thoughts on this- I guess I don't have a specific point. Have a great day!! and try to keep your kids safe.

If 1 more person tells me I'm protecting my 18 month old son too much I think I'll kill them! I am not kidding you when I tell you I was told that after installing a gate at the top of the stairs. I was told, oh after he falls, he'll learn. WHAT?! Yeah, after he breaks his neck, I'm sure he'll be fine?!<br>I realize that anyone can go overboard, but I'm all for things that protect kids.<br><br>I also in agreement with Uncle Sutts. Kids will always find a way to get a little hurt no matter what precautions are taken, so why not do our best to keep them from serious injury?

I have a sister and a mother who often voice their concern how my son is being raised. I generally tell them Well I love my son the way he is. This shames them for criticizing him, as well as pointing out they are putting conditions on their so-called love.<br>I sometimes will say I'm just doing my job as a mom and let them decide how to take it.

Tell them to call you with a cell phone from 1985 while driving without a seat belt at night.<br><br>My wife and I are in that camp a little I must admit; we learned some of these lessons the hard way as as well when we were children and feel that our baby to be will learn as well. But just because there's rubber below now doesn't stop Tommy from seeing how hard the rubber is by pushing Billy from the jungle gym. Science experiments abound when you're a child.<br><br>I would say progress and safety don't make children soft. Limited exercise, fast food, mindless t.v. and video games, and limited parental discipline do.

Well said.<br><br>Science Experiments... nice!

Very interesting topic. I made a group named Health and nutrition, please post your topic and discussion there. dadlabscrib.ning.com/group/healthandnutr...;br><br>Sam