We can counter this rampant
fear-mongering of exposing our kids to danger by deliberately creating
opportunities for children to learn to recognize and mitigate risk. And here
they come. Number one walk to school. Car accidents are the number one cause of
death for children in the United States. And you can reduce that risk greatly
simply by reducing the amount of time spent in cars. The number one fear of
parents in this country is kidnapping. Kidnapping by a non-family member
doesn't even make the top five thousand things that harm children, but study
showed that children who walk to school are better judges of character, have
better situational awareness, and so are therefore less likely to be
victimized. And the habit of walking pays dividends over a lifetime; improved memory, consistent exercise habits,
independence, and a long-lasting sense of well-being ( raising children).
Number two is climbing trees. When
children engage with natural play structures, they exhibit greater cognitive
engagement — this is a classic study out of Germany — more attention is paid to
the activity. And unlike a jungle gym, the tree requires you to figure out how
to climb each moment of it. Each spot in a tree is unique and presents a unique
set of challenges. The child must also take and demonstrate responsibility for
themselves as they ascend up there, out of reach of their parents. And there's
this unique sense of freedom that comes from being up in the top of a tree.
Number three is burning things with a
magnifying glass. Children learn early that the sun is the source of power for
almost all life on Earth. We get that in grammar school. But until they have a
chance to harness and direct it, it's really difficult to build an intuitive
sense of just how much power there is in sunlight. It's also a great
self-directed way for them to explore — discover what burns and what doesn't —
and if you're worried about fire, give them a water bottle. Refraction is less
intuitive than reflection, and playing with the lens helps children integrate
that concept.
Number four is to make a bomb in a
bag! We are composed of chemical
compounds, surrounded by chemical compounds, and consuming chemical compounds.
But we don't often have the chance to play with chemistry just for the sake of
exploration. A simple chemical reaction that we can experiment with provides
the conceptual foundation for deeper understanding of the elemental nature of
our world. Home chemistry sets have all but disappeared, and schools right now
are banning the baking soda vinegar volcano, so you have to create this
opportunity for your children at home. Making a small explosion is a great way
for kids to get a handle on the concepts of chemistry, and messing with the
proportions is a great way to experience the scientific method.
And last but not least, number
five; super-gluing your fingers
together. A temporary disability can
help us better appreciate our physical condition. Necessity is the mother of
invention, and having to figure out how to open a jar of peanut butter without
your thumb can force us to be creative. Done for an hour or more, your brain
actually builds a new kinesthetic map of your abilities to accommodate this
limitation. And when the glue comes off, there will be this moment where their
usual abilities seem unusual to the child. So in conclusion, the most effective
way to keep children safe is to give them a little taste of danger ( raising children).
This is Adam Norman, a 30-year-old father and a journalist. I consider being a father as my full-time duty, which comes before my actual job of journalism. As a father, there will always be new challenges for me to face everyday while raising my kids. This is where the idea of this website came from. I wanted to give out my experience, along with the experience of others, to all parents out there who need an advice with raising their kids.
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