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By all means, let the kid run around town and have fun. I think most of us realize that by the numbers, 'stranger danger' precaution went too far years ago. B

By all means, let the kid run around town and have fun. I think most of us realize that by the numbers, 'stranger danger' precaution went too far years ago. But errands? They'll have a lifetime of errands when they're older; four years is too young, let them have at least a few years of fun first. Maybe the occasional errand is fun for kids, but I think I know how this ends. Before long it's no longer an adventure and becomes a chore, an obligation. The excitement of buying tomatoes subsides and the kid starts to get scolded for playing before getting his chores done. Here's my idea: give kids bikes and tell them to be back before dinner.

wollsmoth 5y ago
Eh, I think it's okay to give kids chores to do from time to time. They can pickup something fun for themselves too.
jimmyjazz14 5y ago
The thing is, errands make kids happy, on the most part kids want responsibility and to feel useful. I agree not every adventure should be an errand though.
function_seven 5y ago
The difference between "the occasional errand is fun for kids" and "becomes a chore, an obligation" cannot be emphasized enough! I vividly remember watching my dad mow the front lawn one afternoon. I was 11 I think? It looked so fun pushing this loud machine over the messy grass and leaving a path of perfectly neat turf behind. I asked him if I could try it out. He hesitated for a bit, then said, "Sure." So I did, and it was fun. And it was now my obligation once a week for the next 8 years. The fun was short-lived, but the chore remained. And the mechanism was identical to how I assumed vacuuming duty at the age of 8, which means I didn't learn my lesson from that fiasco either :)
- robonerd 5y ago
  For me, the first of these adventures-turned-chores was washing the car. It was great fun in the summer; we didn't have air conditioning then so any excuse to go outside and spray the hose was great as far as I was concerned. But before too long that chore extended into the fall and spring when it was chilly and not remotely fun. It only ended when I was 16 and had the idea to drive the car to the local carwash instead.
- bitwize 5y ago
  What are kids for but to serve as extra hands for all the necessary work in the house? :)
  - function_seven 5y ago
    I was literally in a Dickens novel. Might as well have been dropped down the chimney to scrub it!
tootie 5y ago
Risks number 1 by far is cars. They get more than enough adults. Even if kids practice waiting for lights or looking both ways, drivers are nuts and toddlers are not very visible.

wollsmoth 5y ago

Eh, I think it's okay to give kids chores to do from time to time. They can pickup something fun for themselves too.

jimmyjazz14 5y ago

The thing is, errands make kids happy, on the most part kids want responsibility and to feel useful. I agree not every adventure should be an errand though.

function_seven 5y ago

The difference between "the occasional errand is fun for kids" and "becomes a chore, an obligation" cannot be emphasized enough! I vividly remember watching my dad mow the front lawn one afternoon. I was 11 I think? It looked so fun pushing this loud machine over the messy grass and leaving a path of perfectly neat turf behind. I asked him if I could try it out. He hesitated for a bit, then said, "Sure." So I did, and it was fun. And it was now my obligation once a week for the next 8 years. The fun was short-lived, but the chore remained. And the mechanism was identical to how I assumed vacuuming duty at the age of 8, which means I didn't learn my lesson from that fiasco either :)

robonerd 5y ago
For me, the first of these adventures-turned-chores was washing the car. It was great fun in the summer; we didn't have air conditioning then so any excuse to go outside and spray the hose was great as far as I was concerned. But before too long that chore extended into the fall and spring when it was chilly and not remotely fun. It only ended when I was 16 and had the idea to drive the car to the local carwash instead.
bitwize 5y ago
What are kids for but to serve as extra hands for all the necessary work in the house? :)
- function_seven 5y ago
  I was literally in a Dickens novel. Might as well have been dropped down the chimney to scrub it!

tootie 5y ago

Risks number 1 by far is cars. They get more than enough adults. Even if kids practice waiting for lights or looking both ways, drivers are nuts and toddlers are not very visible.