I was just thinking about way back when I was a kid and

I recall falling down on my bike years as a kid, hunting birds and trapping squirrels, the world looked so virgin then-today my world as an adult looks so disgustful-the jungles are no go areas because my country has been a long 20 yer civil war

I know times have changed, that is for sure. I do believe that it is more dangerous these days: more kidnappers, criminals etc. However I still think kids need to get out and about more and socialise. But just take precautions, such as educate kids on safety and strangers, get them to take mobile phone so we can check if they are ok and also give them a time they have to be home by. Our kids are definately becoming more couch potatoes, this is due to several factors such as parents concerned for their safety and also a big factor is all the technology they use these days such as x-box, play station, ipods etc. Think it is pretty sad as they are not as social as we were. I wonder what impact this may have on the future, when they are adults. How will this change our society today.

i also do taht many times. i think rather we all do taht.The childhood memories are so nice as I guess. I like them. We also used to play with so much of friend outside the house. it was fun. there was not so much tension in life then.

Statistically, things don't happen as much as parents believe they do, so I think it's crazy that parents refuse to let their kids do as much as we used to when we were kids. Parents in a sense are a bit brainwashed by the media because that's all we hear and all we hear is how quickly something bad can happen, when in reality, it doesn't happen nearly as much as people think. I agree that precautions are needed and kids need to be taught about strangers and situations, but parents need to stop being so overprotective and let their kids be kids.

Well I teach my kids how to react to strangers. We have agreat neighborhood for them to play in and I don't let them in the house when it is a nice day. Unless they are eating or going to the bathroom, Most of the time I take them out for a walk to the lake or to the swimming beach. Our oldest is 11 and soon will be 11. She has been walking to and from school for over a year now but we taught her all about the safe ways and know the neighborhood cars and all that. We still live in the city so we are very concerned. We got her a cell phone so we all feel better about it. But i do see where you are coming from.As soon as I hear aboiut a stranger approaching children there is no outdoor play away from the house at all. I go with them everywhere until it has settled down again!!!Good discussion, but i believe if you teach them right and show them how to react to strangers than they should be fine. As well never go anywheres alone.

I don't know what era you grew up. For me it was the '50s. Those were days in my mind when a kid could be a kid, even in Chicago. Maybe I was just lucky. Before I lived in Chicago I was in a rural area -- plenty of houses and people, but not a city. We walked along the railroad tracks so we could go to the movies in another town, swam in the lake, and enjoyed a lot of freedom. it's unfortunate that kids can't do that anymore -- too many weirdos and pedofiles on the loose. It's very sad.