Do You Walk With Your Children Behind You or In Front of You
By 2wicelot
@2wicelot (2945)
July 20, 2007 6:51am CST
May times I see a lot of parents, mothers especially walking on the street or other places with their children trailing behind them. This has bothered me so quite some time now. I am not a parent and would not claim to know anything about parenting but I think it will be easier and safer if they had the kids in their sights in front of them rather than behind them.
Sometimes even while getting on the bus or train, the parents get on first and let the children get on after them. I think this is quite dangerous. I remember this story that was shown round the world last year during the War in Lebanon. They were evacuating those with foreign passports and this woman got on the boat before her 2 boys and the boat took off immediately leaving the kids behind. The worst part was she had all their passports and and stuff with her. She cried and begged for the boat to go back for them but it never did.
Just wondering, how do you walk with your own kids?
9 people like this
53 responses
@meme0907 (3481)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Hey 2l,
You make a very good point in your discussion-I remember when my son was little he always wanted to go to the toys or electronics section of the store & I wouldn't let him go but when I knew he was smart enough to yell fire if a stranger approached him I started to let him go.However,I would never let him walk behind me in fear that he would get hit by a car.
+'s |:)
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
20 Jul 07
With my own kids, I always wanted them beside me, or slightly ahead. My rule for them, and for my grandkids now, is that they have to be within arms reach of me, if they are not holding my hand. When I had a daycare we either all held hands or made a train if we went into a store, or for a walk. I wanted, and still want, to see what those kiddos are up to as we walk.
@fredgame (1260)
• China
20 Jul 07
i'll side with you though i'm not yet a parent. i think that is danderous indeed to allow your children to be trailing behind you.
A man was with his child behind him and they were crossing the road and suddenly there was a shout and the man turned to see a vehicle swayed it's way, the man rushed to the roadside and only turned to see his child on pool of blood.
if i have children i'll not allow them to move behind me but either by my side or infront.
2 people like this
@LadyDulce (830)
• United States
21 Jul 07
A child can get hurt or snatched regardless of whether the parent is before or behind him. If a child walks before the parent, that child is the first to hit any danger and is also more likely to run ahead and go too far. I always walked slightly behind and to the side of my mother, sometimes right beside her. Even to this day, I'm uncomfortable walking before someone. My child walks beside or slightly behind me. Have you taken into account the fact that most children's legs are much shorter than those of their parents? They physically cannot keep ahead of their parents. Even if they start out in front, they always fall back. The issue is not where a child walks, but how alert and attentive the parents or guardians are. Once my son hits about 7 or 8, he'll be allowed to run ahead in certain areas, but he'll always need to stay within earshot and in my sight. It's really that simple.
Blessed Be
2 people like this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
20 Jul 07
I don't have kids... but my friend and I went to NYC for New Years Eve this past New Years. When we were walking around with all the many other folks and tourists in the area we were constantly amazed at not only by the kids trailing far behind the parents but by the extreme lack of carelessness by the parents! Honestly you're in New York City, one of the most crowded cities in America not to mention during one of the busiest times of the year! These kids would be walking behind stopping and looking at things while the parents just walked on not even looking back to see where their kids were. Some parents would cross the street while their kids stared off into space, not even crossing the street with the parents. Anyone could have easily snatched those kids up. Those kids could have easily lost track of their parents and been Lost in New York City. Real life isn't like Home Alone 2. You know, it's not like the kid and the mom will meet at the big christmas tree and find each other!
I don't have kids, but when my cat has been MIA in my house for a while I always go on a cat hunt. I find him...make sure he's alive and well and then leave him alone. I'd imagine I'd watch out for my kids too.
2 people like this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
20 Jul 07
I know! I'm not a huge kid person. Like, I don't know what to do with babies. They don't do anything. But toddlers are cool. I don't know if I'll ever have kids, much to my moms disappointment, but I definitely think I'd do better with kids than some people out there! We couldn't believe these people didn't pay attention to their kids. I felt for the kids too even though they weren't upset their parents were half a mile away from them because they didn't even realize it, but if the parents aren't paying attention to them now, wait till their teens and NEED the attention!
2 people like this
@2wicelot (2945)
•
20 Jul 07
The kids may have just been having fun not even bothering about their safety as well. I heard on a show one time that parenting is something you learn on the job and not actually prepare for before hand. I think if you just put in a little effort, everything would be just fine.
2 people like this
@2wicelot (2945)
•
20 Jul 07
That is really dangerous. Especially crossing the road without holding the kids hands. That is sad you know. I think parents need to be more responsible and look after the kids well because the kids can't do it themselves. That is why they are kids. I think you will make a good parent because you are already one to your cat.
2 people like this
@angel_of_charm (4134)
• Philippines
20 Jul 07
hm, i always walk kids on my side..and it should the other side on which there will be no chance that a vehicle wll hit them..i am on the danger side always..and when it comes to riding a vehicle i always let the kids in first..the kids are always first to anythng when it comes to safety
@mean_queen (1713)
• Malaysia
20 Jul 07
I agree... Kids should always be on the less dangerous side of the road. I can't even let my little sister walk on the side where cars are coming, and she's already 14~! :P
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
20 Jul 07
While walking I always try to keep my son in front of me. That way I can always keep an eye on him while giving him his freedom to walk alone. If I have to hold his hand, I always try to keep him on my left side as, the traffic flows past from the right side (if you are walking in the right direction). Also everytime I get down from the bus, I get down first and then only does my son get down. These are some of the safety rules I always follow and I hope other mother would follow these too.
2 people like this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
25 Jul 07
Glad to be of any help. The more we share our common worries and problems, the more we come to know.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
22 Jul 07
As my kiods are older it doesn't really matter now. My 14 year old daughter races ahead of me. I do try to keep my 9 year old step daughter near where I can see her, as she is not 100% reliable.
I would agree it is safer to keep young children in front of a parent, or along side, holding their hand.
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
20 Jul 07
I would keep my kids to my side or a bit in front of me so that way I can see them and make sure nothing is going to happen. I have good side vision so I would feel at ease with having them walk beside me.
I don't understand why some parents are as you described. It makes me think that some parents are ashamed of their kids. When I was younger, and we happened to be taking public transportation, my mother would always make sure that my brother and I were in the taxi or bus before she got in. It's really not that hard for a parent to pay the bus fee with their child standing to the side or in front of them.
2 people like this
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
20 Jul 07
I prefer my kids infront of me where I can see them. They walk where they will but usualy it is directly behind me. That is what they prefer. I hate not being able to see them, I am always looking around to see where they are at.
@kaplya (1578)
• India
21 Jul 07
i m not a parent but i guess if i was one of course i would have prefer to keep them beside me holding my hands!:)especially as i find i have grown up a very protective lot!lol
when i was a child my father was somewhat like these parents when it came to go for shoppings but i can say it was a sense of freedom and adventure for me to be behind him with my siblings and we were never actually afraid(of course the kids see it the other way).it was much of an enjoyment. fortunately our parents were responsible enough to let us board us on vehicles before getting in themselves..it's a really scary incident you've mentioned here!!
2 people like this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
20 Jul 07
Now this is one of those things that really burns me up. I, like you, don't have any children. But I have helped raise my ten nieces and nephews. I don't like for any of them to walk behind me. I can not see what is happening with them, if they are behind me.
I have seen parents do this and it really bothers me. I try not to judge anyone, but there is never an excuse for allowing a child to walk behind you. Either they are in front or I am holding their hand. This is so very important. At any time, you could look back and they are gone forever.
2 people like this
@sharonercastillo (888)
• Philippines
20 Jul 07
my daughter is barely two, and when walking, of course i hold her hand... i have nieces and nephews ages from 4 to 11 years old, and when i'm with them, like going to the mall, i make sure they're beside, holding their hands, esp in crossing the street. even if inside the mall, i have them always within sight in front of me... kids could easily get hurt,... or lost...ughh! i shudder at the thought
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
21 Jul 07
It wouldn't cross my mind to let my children walk behind me but I can remember as a teenager I never liked to walk in front of my parents. Did anyone else notice that when they were a teen?
1 person likes this
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
21 Jul 07
No it was that I didn't want them watching me so I liked to walk behind them!
1 person likes this
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
20 Jul 07
Hi there. When we're all out walking as family, we all walk together, next to each other, as I dont have little children, we have 1 intermediate and 1 high school child... We all walk together, not behind or in front of each other...
@ozzydee70 (465)
• Germany
20 Jul 07
i walked with my kids holding them in their hand (walked with them side by side), or in some cases allowed them to walk in front of me. I'm more confident seeing them in front of me and its more safer.
2 people like this
@wilynn (751)
• Singapore
20 Jul 07
I bring my cousins out to shopping and always made sure they walk in front of me. How can I let them walk behind me? I'll definitely lose them somehow or rather. Anyway, I'm very paranoid about losing them morever they are not my kids and I will not be able to pay their parents back another same kid. It is very important to look after children carefully when you bring them out.
2 people like this
