I have these neighbors. They won't let their kids do anything on their own...

I would be absolutely no use on a field trip and so even if I wanted to go, I wouldn't. I can't walk far enough or fast enough to keep up with kids! Did the strict watching of the kids start AFTER one nearly drowned and another was attacked by a coyote? Because those things seem to indicate someone wasn't watching them all that carefully. If so, it's a knee-jerk reaction that will probably ease up over time, which is a good thing. The best way to protect kids is to teach them how to take care of themselves, and that includes giving them a little scary information now and again about the dangers that are out there. You didn't say how old the kids are, so I can't say if their level of protection is overboard or not. I hope they don't keep them in and follow them everywhere because they have other reasons, such as not wanting the kids to talk too much about home life, which would indicate that there were problems there.

Having those parents be so over-protective of those kids are going to wind up making them nervous wrecks as far as I see. They'll pick up on the fearfulness of their parents and will become needy and fearful themselves...also, having their parents hang around them so much on school trips might cause them a lot of ridiculing from their peers--and you know how rotten kids can be with other kids!

I can really understand what these parents might be thinking and they are so right in being with their children all the time. When something so dangerous happens to both your children yes its time to say Im with these kids 24 7! Or at least till they become a teenager. Yes it may be extreme but I would rather be extreme rather then risking something else happening. God has given them a second chance. You should never mess it up.

Whoa? bitten by a coyote and the daughter almost drowned? Umm I would probably be like the parents too and become very overprotective of them. I think it will take a while for them to loosen their grip, which is understandable I think. I think in time they will get over what happened and let their kids take part again.

I think that the parents will start to chill out as time goes by. Consider that they've almost lost both of those children -- naturally they're going to be over protective for awhile. Put yourself in their place. They probably question their parenting skills now because of those incidents and need to prove to themselves that they're good parents, PLUS the need to protect and nurture their children.

Erm....lol Im sorry if my son got attacked by a coyote and my daughter just about drown, then no I dont think I would let them out of my site for a while. You really said that as if they fell riding a bike or got stung by a bee! Maybe the children dont want to be left alone from their own fear of something happening. Those sound like terrifying experiences to me, nothing near ordinary. So I can truly understand their caution.

It's extreme, but sadly, I can relate to it! As it's such an unsafe world for children. I never let my grand daughter play too near the front yard, and I live in the country about a mile and a half from a very small town.. And yes, field trips are a little scary.. but I don't go along, I pray. [Tho they would like more volunteers.]

I think it also depends on the age of the children. I know a lot of kids, and while some parents let their children go on the bus by themselves, others won't let their kids walk to the corner store. None of the kids seem particularly dependent or clingy, though. (Although the kids who aren't allowed to take the bus or be anywhere without their parents feel that they are being very patient). Every family is different. And the children will have to eventually do things on their own, and will push away at their parents, hopefully to a healthy point.

It depends on their ages really and if there are any medical problems. My youngest that is 8 has ADD plus is an asthmatic, so I go on fieldtrips to not only watch her but the other three kids in her class that are asthmatics. The teachers appreciate that and request for me to go. Then the fact a sicko just took a 12 year old little boy from his front yard and killed him last week, no I don't let my girls in the front yard without me or their Dad on the porch to watch them. So with all that said, I don’t see a problem with it. Parents have to protective over their kids as long as there is no signs they are backwards or being harmed by the parents being cautious there is nothing wrong with it.

I can see why they'd be overprotective after what has almost happened to them and with the way society is today with all the perverts and child molesters I can see why they don't want them going off on trips or wanting to go with them. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

I don't think that's overprotective at all considering what the family has recently been through. Parents should be involved in their children's lives. Parents should be watchful & protective of their children. No one has the same investment in those children as their parents & no one will ever do a 'better' job of caring for them than they will. I am sure as the trauma fades from these episodes they will lighten up a bit.

It does seem strange but I also relate in a way. My youngest son (He is almost 17 now.) had a very severe seizure disorder when he was 4 and 5 years old. It was so bad that the doctors gave us no answers, no cures, and said he would brain damaged. I nearly lost him many times. We finally went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and he was put on a diet called the Ketogenic Diet. Long story short, he stopped having seizures after 18 days on the diet. He stayed on for a year and never had another one, thank God. But for a LONG time I was very protective of him. I was so scared he would have a seizure again (since I had no idea why he had them or even why they stopped). I was terrified something bad would happen. It got to the point where he had to finally tell me that if something happens, it happens but I have to back off and let him "be a boy". I will never forget that day. I have a feeling I will always be more scared about him than the older one but I have long since backed off and let him be a boy and he has been fine. I guess the parents are so scared that they will lose their kids after almost losing them, they are holding on too tight. I think, as time passes, they will loosen up. If my kid almost drowned this summer, I would be scared too! But I am a closer overprotective parent anyway. I do think, in a few months, as they see all is OK, they will slowly back down and everything will be OK. The kids will eventually tell their parents that they are smothering them. Mine did. And he was right. I was.

Those parents in fact hurt theirchildren who will be unable to take care of themselves in the future. It's better to get burnt by fire once, than live you're whole life afraid of it, if you know what I mean... Aside of that this kind of protection my result in them being antisocial in a couple of years. Or it can make them rebel strongly when they'll be teenagers. Either way is no good:/

Usually I would say yes, they are over-reacting and are being over protective. In this case though, you stated that the little boy was attacked by a coyote and the little girl almost drowned. That would change me as a parent too. I wouldn't want to have my children out of my sight for quite some time after two such close calls!

Sounds to me that these parents are not watching their children close enough in situations that they should have supervision (drowning and being attacked) and are watching them to much in controled enviroments in which they already have supervision. (Field Trips) I am so over protected of my children and honestly couldnt be closer to them when the situation calls. Altho you do worrie when your children are out without you (friends, trips) i do step back and just pray they make it home safe and sound :)

Not playing outside in the yard seems a little drastic although it depends on their age as well and the fact that one of them was attacked by a coyote and the other almost drowned then I think I can relate as I believe I would be a nervous wreck and would fear something would happen to my children as well as those are things that are more then just accidents they are way that they could have lost their children so quickly to freak accidetns and it would make one paranoid that they would lose their children . They will probably relax a little bit after awhile when they see nothing is going to happen to their children but it is probably still to fresh in their mind to want to take a chance with their children . Freak accidents happen all the time but it doesn't mean it won't happen and no one wants it to be their children it happen to .

There are two schools of thought on this, as I see it. I grew up very sheltered by my mom, and it caused me to be so shy, that it hindered me in my early adult years. I'm no longer like this, but it was a struggle. However, there's nothing wrong with a bit of 'healthy overprotection.' I don't know the ages of these children, but if they're still quite young, I can understand this. Kids can get in a lot of serious trouble in an instant, and I think when they're quite young, you can't be 'too careful.' The fact that they were both in danger this summer, is a good reason too. As a parent, I'd be so thankful they were still with me, and would do all in my power to prevent anything like this happening again. As for the field trips, most schools seek parent volunteers, and most kids, when they're younger, love to have mom or dad along. I went on several kindergarten trips with my daughter, and others as well, up to about grade 4. My daughter loved having me there, and I was helping out the school, by doing this. Of course, when she was in the higher grades, I no longer went along, although they still needed volunteers at times. My daughter is 16 now, and is a very independent young lady. I don't regret the time spent with her, when she was younger, and even now, we strike a balance between her time with friends, and family time, which is her decision, as well.

Wow that poor family - how distressing it must have been for them to have had 2 such near fatal tragedies with their children! Yes I agree they are maybe over protective but if I put myself in their shoes I think there is a very good chance I would be the same way and to be totally honest I think the majority of parents would. I know children need to be given freedom and need to learn for themselves and maybe in time this couple will be able to relax enough to allow this to happen but right now they are probably too traumatised by the fear of almost losing their children! xxx