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There was on article here a few weeks ago about how Japanese parents and teachers train children to be safe before letting them out on their own. https://savvy
by kijin 10y ago
There was on article here a few weeks ago about how Japanese parents and teachers train children to be safe before letting them out on their own.
https://savvytokyo.com/japan-prepares-children-independence/ https://savvytokyo.com/japan-prepares-children-independence/
Most American parents, on the other hand, don't teach their kids anything about being safe on the streets (other than basic theory, like "don't cross on a red light") because they're always shuttling them around in a car. The reason it's unsafe for American children to roam free is because they don't know how to. In the past, they learned from older siblings and friends. Nowadays there's nobody to teach them. And as soon as you turn 16, you're suddenly free to drive anywhere. It doesn't feel safe to be a pedestrian in a town where most drivers have never been a pedestrian. And so the vicious cycle continues.
- citiguy 10y agoMaybe in the suburbs. Here in New York City kids are expected to make their own way home by the fifth grade. And take mass transit to school by themselves by sixth. I'm not sure if it's safe, but plenty of kids manage it themselves. My eight year old is eagerly awaiting the day he can walk home by himself.
- kijin 10y agoIt might have to do with the fact that fewer people drive in New York City. Suburban parents can drop their kids off at the school on their way to work. Trying to do the same in New York City would be a massive waste of time! The last few decades were all about ever-expanding suburbs. It would be interesting to study the effect of urban revival and gentrification on parenting behavior and the larger culture over the next few decades.
- oftenwrong 10y agoNew York City is one of the safest place to be a pedestrian. See the "AMERICAN CAR-NAGE" section of Jeff Speck's Walkable City https://books.google.com/books?id=kbfeAQAAQBAJ&lpg=PA37&ots=8Mnue7ECtY&pg=PA44#v=onepage&q&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=kbfeAQAAQBAJ&lpg=PA37&ots=...