R e t a r d e d - N e w s - F i l e:
11-28-07 From USA TodayExperts: ATVs not safe for children
Photo by By Vivian Johnson, Erie Times-News, via AP
From Kevin
I know I'm on a roll with these headlines, but they so often typify things that have gone awry with our parenting. Take this headline about ATVs...is this really a surprise to anyone? Reminds me of a headline in the local paper in Ft. Collins, CO back in the early 90s when I live there: "Studies show that runners with more expensive shoes prone to increase in foot injuries." Holy smacks! Ya' think? Maybe...runners who buy more expensive running shoes...run more?! In related headlines:
- "People who step outside during a monsoon report strange occurrence of getting wet"
- "People over 7 feet tall more likely to bump heads"
- "People who believe newspaper headlines more likely to be retarded..."
I mean really. And not that the point here is to diss the media, but I actually fear it gives some parents support for not booting their kids out the door to...be kids. As a kid, I spent my childhood on my bicycle, building ramps, careening down hillsides, and losing a few pounds of skin and blood along the way. I see kids today that spend most of their time inside, riding 'virtual' ATVs. We continually practice 'risk aversion' with our kids.
They need to get hurt. They need to do scary things. They need to crash and burn. They need to fail. In the midst of it, they'll have a blast! They'll experience true adrenaline rushes, they'll test the limits and expand their abilities and horizons. They'll be world changers and not desk-jockies. Let's prepare them for more and better!
Do you think we should ban ATVs, keep kids inside, protect them... Share your thoughts. The comment link is up at the top of this entry.
