6 ms·

My first thought was that kids are spending more time on schooling and homework, and less on creative play and unsupervised time outdoors. Childhoods today are

by rb808 7y ago

My first thought was that kids are spending more time on schooling and homework, and less on creative play and unsupervised time outdoors. Childhoods today are very different than 50 years ago.

masklinn 7y ago
Were that the case, the highly regimented asian educational system would have yielded significantly sub-standard average IQs.
- magduf 7y ago
  In Asia, kids regularly go outside without supervision. In Japan, kids as young as 7 or 8 walk themselves to school without their parents. That kind of thing is illegal in America.
  - fzeroracer 7y ago
    I'm pretty sure that has nothing to do with it, because in Japan kids generally have far less time to be kids due to the rigorous school system and testing focus. That in turn leads to Japan's increased rate of suicide among the youth.
  - zone411 7y ago
    It's not illegal: https://www.fastcompany.com/3055107/federal-law-now-says-kids-can-walk-to-school-alone https://www.fastcompany.com/3055107/federal-law-now-says-kid.... But it is frowned-upon by the society.
    - magduf 7y ago
      It's frowned upon, and a federal law isn't going to stop local cops from hassling parents. Remember, cops don't actually have to follow or enforce the laws, they can basically do what they want, and if you don't like it, your only recourse is to sue.
      - zone411 7y ago
        Right, but your original claim was that it's illegal and that's what I was responding to.
dagw 7y ago
While that may be true, it also seems to me (anecdotal) that schooling today involves a lot more 'creative play' and self guided exploration, and lot less rote learning than it did 50 years ago. I wonder if it's possible to untangle the effects.
magduf 7y ago
>My first thought was that kids are spending more time on schooling and homework, and less on creative play and unsupervised time outdoors. In America, unsupervised time outdoors is illegal in many states.
- TheShrug 7y ago
  I have a hard time agreeing with this statement. I don't doubt that there have been some unnecessary charges against parents, but I don't believe that there are any strongly enforced laws regarding this. There has always been unsupervised children everywhere that I have lived. Whether they are walking to school or walking around and playing with friends.
  - magduf 7y ago
    Just google for "illegal children outside" and you'll find all kinds of stories. Here's one: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2014/09/25/kari-anne-roy-how-letting-my-kid-play-alone-outside-led-to-a-cps-investigation https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2014/09/25/kar... Parents are routinely investigated or get police contact because of this. Of course, being America, it varies a lot from place to place (you probably won't have a problem if you're in an extremely rural place and your kids are playing around in the 40 acres that is your backyard, but in a conservative suburban subdivision you certainly can have CPS investigate just for letting your kids play in your back yard). As for "always", things were definitely nothing like this when I grew up in the 80s. This isn't the same country I grew up in.
    - gdulli 7y ago
      The article you cited says: "The police officer left with a curt nod and without filing a report." And "agree[d] that this was a little ridiculous." It was officially marked a "non-event". The whole point of the story is that it's not illegal. An inappropriately nosy neighbor caused a stir, and that sucks. But there's no reason to escalate and downward spiral the situation by countering with factually incorrect claims.

by rb808 7y ago

My first thought was that kids are spending more time on schooling and homework, and less on creative play and unsupervised time outdoors. Childhoods today are very different than 50 years ago.

masklinn 7y ago

Were that the case, the highly regimented asian educational system would have yielded significantly sub-standard average IQs.

magduf 7y ago
In Asia, kids regularly go outside without supervision. In Japan, kids as young as 7 or 8 walk themselves to school without their parents. That kind of thing is illegal in America.
- fzeroracer 7y ago
  I'm pretty sure that has nothing to do with it, because in Japan kids generally have far less time to be kids due to the rigorous school system and testing focus. That in turn leads to Japan's increased rate of suicide among the youth.
- zone411 7y ago
  It's not illegal: https://www.fastcompany.com/3055107/federal-law-now-says-kids-can-walk-to-school-alone https://www.fastcompany.com/3055107/federal-law-now-says-kid.... But it is frowned-upon by the society.
  - magduf 7y ago
    It's frowned upon, and a federal law isn't going to stop local cops from hassling parents. Remember, cops don't actually have to follow or enforce the laws, they can basically do what they want, and if you don't like it, your only recourse is to sue.
    - zone411 7y ago
      Right, but your original claim was that it's illegal and that's what I was responding to.

dagw 7y ago

While that may be true, it also seems to me (anecdotal) that schooling today involves a lot more 'creative play' and self guided exploration, and lot less rote learning than it did 50 years ago. I wonder if it's possible to untangle the effects.

magduf 7y ago

>My first thought was that kids are spending more time on schooling and homework, and less on creative play and unsupervised time outdoors. In America, unsupervised time outdoors is illegal in many states.

TheShrug 7y ago
I have a hard time agreeing with this statement. I don't doubt that there have been some unnecessary charges against parents, but I don't believe that there are any strongly enforced laws regarding this. There has always been unsupervised children everywhere that I have lived. Whether they are walking to school or walking around and playing with friends.
- magduf 7y ago
  Just google for "illegal children outside" and you'll find all kinds of stories. Here's one: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2014/09/25/kari-anne-roy-how-letting-my-kid-play-alone-outside-led-to-a-cps-investigation https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2014/09/25/kar... Parents are routinely investigated or get police contact because of this. Of course, being America, it varies a lot from place to place (you probably won't have a problem if you're in an extremely rural place and your kids are playing around in the 40 acres that is your backyard, but in a conservative suburban subdivision you certainly can have CPS investigate just for letting your kids play in your back yard). As for "always", things were definitely nothing like this when I grew up in the 80s. This isn't the same country I grew up in.
  - gdulli 7y ago
    The article you cited says: "The police officer left with a curt nod and without filing a report." And "agree[d] that this was a little ridiculous." It was officially marked a "non-event". The whole point of the story is that it's not illegal. An inappropriately nosy neighbor caused a stir, and that sucks. But there's no reason to escalate and downward spiral the situation by countering with factually incorrect claims.