Children need to be taught responsibility and the consequences of their actions. I don't shelter my children, and I allow them to see news reports, special reports etc on various situations so that they realize there is real danger in the world & discuss it with them (we had a discussion about the recent Oprah that showed wanted child molestors and how one was plotting to get children by acting like a friend, etc...). There are consequences to your actions. If you harm someone - it's not like in the cartoons - they can die (just from hitting someone the wrong way). And finally - to be careful of who they are around and look at their surroundings. Every situation is different, but parents have a responsibility not to talk about violence in front of their children in a blaze` way (I'd shoot that so & so, I'd do such and such to them if they eva did that to me....) - children often don't understand the difference between venting and real life. And finally - 9 & 11 yrs are too young for 2 children to be left alone in today's society.
ETA: my 10 yr old comes home daily to tell me which one of her classmates are in a gang, or was "joking" about it, etc. ***SM Darn H***
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