This certainly not the biggest problem facing America. But on a summer-jobs-for-young-people site (giving parents ideas to give to their kids) one suggestion was to have kids run a “Neighborhood Park Hour.” One hour, mind you.
The site explained that kids can make a flyer “and get parents interested in paying for ‘Park Hour’.”
So far, so good. Then it adds, regarding those paying parents:
“This means they still bring their children to the park and stay there with them, but they get to sit on the sidelines and read, work, or do whatever else they’d like while your child plays with the kids.”
Why does this tiny little artifact get my goat? Because under the merry guise of child empowerment it is reinforcing the idea that:
1) Parents must ALWAYS be with their kids — even when they hire someone to watch them!
2) Parenting ALWAYS requires money.
3) Children are so bored and boring, they ALWAYS require someone to entertain them.
If people started to believe again that kids can go outside without an adult, it would free parents AND their pocketbooks. It would even free up the kids to entertain themselves!
Win. Win. Win.
Here’s a summer of winning!
2 Comments
My kids had chores but also a lot of time to play. They learned young not to tell me they were bored, because I could always find way to keep them busy if they were. Bored? Good, weed the garden(not a regular chore) dust the shelves, clean the garage, organize your closet, etc. they learned fast to amuse themselves. Especially when whining resulted in a time out. This doesn’t mean I never had ideas for them or helped them do things but I didn’t want them to think I was there to plan all entertainment, they could do it themselves
I can’t recall my parents ever giving me a task, responsibility as punishment. Any appropriate for me to do, they expected me to do no matter how well I behaved. Why not? This enriched my upbringing, ultimate independence, ability ultimately to take care of myself, others.
I never got bored, so I have no idea what my parents would have done if I had. Having dear doggies themselves amused me much, clamoring endlessly for attention. I loved them. I craved reading. I had plenty of friends I could talk to on the phone if not hook up. I had plenty of responsibilities for my benefit AND my parents’.
I’m aghast too, Lenore. I surmise as you do. I don’t see them spelling this all out, however. Any other takes? I’m esp. disturbed that kids from impoverished families apparently will be excluded. Devastating. For what?
>”If people started to believe again that kids can go outside without an adult, it would free parents AND their pocketbooks. It would even free up the kids to entertain themselves!” Bingo!. I have nothing, no ideas to add. Just more disgust. They are bullying autocratically over kids and parents alike. Who’s behind this site and what do they think empowers them so?