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People have different ideas of “responsible”, and different levels of risk they are comfortable with. I read an article a year ago about an anthropologist doin

People have different ideas of “responsible”, and different levels of risk they are comfortable with. I read an article a year ago about an anthropologist doing field work somewhere in a hunter-gatherer village in Africa marveling that a 9-month-old baby was playing with a machete. The anthropologist asked the mother if she was afraid the kid would get hurt. The mother said “he’ll figure out soon that the machete is sharp, and then be careful after that.” Personally handing a baby a machete is a bit much for me, but my not-quite-2 year old and I walk around barefoot all the time in the city, and people are constantly asking me if I’m worried about broken glass or whatever.

PebblesRox 8y ago
I love Teacher Tom's mindset. He views risky activities as essential for kids to learn how to be safe. While supervision is important, meddling is unhelpful. They can do a lot when we step back and let them explore their own physical capabilities. I've adopted his phrase: "I won't help you, but I won't let you get hurt." http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-process-of-risk.html http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-process-of-r... I love how he makes ridiculous suggestions so that his students use critical thinking instead of blindly following authority: 'While plugging in a glue gun, I once said to a group of older kids, "Have you ever tried sticking your finger into an electrical outlet?" They came down on me like a house of bricks, "If we did that Teacher Tom, we would die!"' http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-we-did-that-teacher-tom-we-would-die.html http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-we-did-that-t... My mindset with my son as he started walking and climbing was to allow him to experience natural consequences as much as possible (within reasonable safety limits, of course). I've been very impressed by how careful he is when climbing. http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/law-of-natural-consequences.html http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/law-of-natural-c...
- fjsolwmv 8y ago
  I don't understand. Obviously the kids learned that by their parental authoritu drilling a false myth into their heads, not by direct experience and critical thinking.
  - jacobolus 8y ago
    Not sure I would call this a “false myth”. Obviously most of the time these shocks don’t cause serious injury, but from what I can tell from a quick web search thousands of kids every year end up in the emergency room after sticking stuff in wall sockets or grabbing cords with missing insulation. Sure though, it would probably be better to let them play with circuits plugged into a non-lethal battery and get a few minor zaps, then explain that connecting a circuit with your body between the two sides of a wall socket could cause severe burns, other serious health problems, or even a fatal cardiac arrest if you are unlucky.

PebblesRox 8y ago

I love Teacher Tom's mindset. He views risky activities as essential for kids to learn how to be safe. While supervision is important, meddling is unhelpful. They can do a lot when we step back and let them explore their own physical capabilities. I've adopted his phrase: "I won't help you, but I won't let you get hurt." http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-process-of-risk.html http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-process-of-r... I love how he makes ridiculous suggestions so that his students use critical thinking instead of blindly following authority: 'While plugging in a glue gun, I once said to a group of older kids, "Have you ever tried sticking your finger into an electrical outlet?" They came down on me like a house of bricks, "If we did that Teacher Tom, we would die!"' http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-we-did-that-teacher-tom-we-would-die.html http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-we-did-that-t... My mindset with my son as he started walking and climbing was to allow him to experience natural consequences as much as possible (within reasonable safety limits, of course). I've been very impressed by how careful he is when climbing. http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/law-of-natural-consequences.html http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/law-of-natural-c...

fjsolwmv 8y ago
I don't understand. Obviously the kids learned that by their parental authoritu drilling a false myth into their heads, not by direct experience and critical thinking.
- jacobolus 8y ago
  Not sure I would call this a “false myth”. Obviously most of the time these shocks don’t cause serious injury, but from what I can tell from a quick web search thousands of kids every year end up in the emergency room after sticking stuff in wall sockets or grabbing cords with missing insulation. Sure though, it would probably be better to let them play with circuits plugged into a non-lethal battery and get a few minor zaps, then explain that connecting a circuit with your body between the two sides of a wall socket could cause severe burns, other serious health problems, or even a fatal cardiac arrest if you are unlucky.