Kids "playing" in the street - Parents, please explain?
20 February 2009, 09:19 AM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: "Every one should have a friend called Dave - they're the human equivalent of a Swiss Army knife!!"
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kids "playing" in the street - Parents, please explain?
It is beyond my understanding why children "play" in the street. It is also even more beyond my understanding why the parents of the children allow them to play in the street. In the 70's and 80's it wasn't so bad due to far less cars on the road but in this day and age with all the driver aids creating immortal drivers, children should NOT be allowed to play in the street as it's just NOT SAFE!
Most housing estate roads are subject to a 30mph limit which is enough to kill should a child run out into the path of a car. We get this hammered home on the TV and radio all the time these days yet children continue to be allowed to play in the street.
I would really like to here from a parent as to their reasonings for allowing their children to play in the street nowadays. Most houses have gardens and their are parks and recreational grounds not far away.
Please don't get me wrong, I'm not having a pop or a whinge. I'm genuinley interested to know why parents allow this.
Most housing estate roads are subject to a 30mph limit which is enough to kill should a child run out into the path of a car. We get this hammered home on the TV and radio all the time these days yet children continue to be allowed to play in the street.
I would really like to here from a parent as to their reasonings for allowing their children to play in the street nowadays. Most houses have gardens and their are parks and recreational grounds not far away.
Please don't get me wrong, I'm not having a pop or a whinge. I'm genuinley interested to know why parents allow this.
20 February 2009, 09:38 AM
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Children should be able to play on housing estates. I think thats why people move onto them. I'm sure we all played in the street and were not all dead!
The papers would like you to believe that children can't go out side anymore because of the crazy madman doing 30mph or the army of paedo's waiting round the corner from your house.
Its all part of growing up (not the paedo bit - thats a joke) and if children are not allowed to grow up this way like we did then how on earth are they going to cope as adults?
The papers would like you to believe that children can't go out side anymore because of the crazy madman doing 30mph or the army of paedo's waiting round the corner from your house.
Its all part of growing up (not the paedo bit - thats a joke) and if children are not allowed to grow up this way like we did then how on earth are they going to cope as adults?
20 February 2009, 09:40 AM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Far Corfe
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Children should be able to play on housing estates. I think thats why people move onto them. I'm sure we all played in the street and were not all dead!
The papers would like you to believe that children can't go out side anymore because of the crazy madman doing 30mph or the army of paedo's waiting round the corner from your house.
Its all part of growing up (not the paedo bit - thats a joke) and if children are not allowed to grow up this way like we did then how on earth are they going to cope as adults?
The papers would like you to believe that children can't go out side anymore because of the crazy madman doing 30mph or the army of paedo's waiting round the corner from your house.
Its all part of growing up (not the paedo bit - thats a joke) and if children are not allowed to grow up this way like we did then how on earth are they going to cope as adults?
20 February 2009, 09:42 AM
#5
Scooby Senior
Maybe you'd prefer they stayed indoors, watched TV and played video games while drinking pop and eating crisps and chocolate! 
As long as they're not playing on a busy main road, I really don't see the problem. I played on the street as a kid, the people who lived on the street drove slowly because they knew there were kids on the street. It helped build a stronger community and we were taught not to play near parked cars a) for our own safety and b) to stop us damaging the cars.
It does depend on the street, but generally, I'm all for it.
As long as they're not playing on a busy main road, I really don't see the problem. I played on the street as a kid, the people who lived on the street drove slowly because they knew there were kids on the street. It helped build a stronger community and we were taught not to play near parked cars a) for our own safety and b) to stop us damaging the cars.
It does depend on the street, but generally, I'm all for it.
20 February 2009, 09:42 AM
#6
Scooby Regular
maybe you,ve got it the wrong way around and parents should be asking you why you are driving in areas that children play
maybe they could argue that there should be a massive expansion of "urban safe zones" such as the ones around ladbrook grove in west london
maybe they could argue that there should be a massive expansion of "urban safe zones" such as the ones around ladbrook grove in west london
20 February 2009, 09:43 AM
#7
Scooby Regular
Agree with Mamoon, never did me no harm and i'm young-ish so it wasn't that long ago. Makes ya a bit more street wise for when u enter the big bad world
Trending Topics
20 February 2009, 09:43 AM
#8
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Next door to the WiFi connection
Posts: 16,293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They should be kicked onto the streets for at least 3 hours a day to make their own entertainment rather than sitting on their XBOX all day long, get them street wise and responsible for themselves. If theyre stupid enough to run out in front of a car doing 30mph without looking then its another stupid person out of the gene pool. Seriously though. Its no more dangerous today than it was back then.
20 February 2009, 09:45 AM
#9
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Here
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think we probably have 2 ways of looking at this(maybe more) but we have gangs of teens on the streets yet on the other hand we have kids whonever move from the tv/computer/ps3 etc, we actually want the kids out the houses and playing like we did years ago, why are they all so kin fat? because they eat **** and sit on their **** all day and night,
But we do have dangers, People seem to think its more dangerous then it was 15/20 years ago,Not thru the believed pedo rings etc, its always been the same just not reported like today, yes maybe there is more traffic on the road but we used to MOVE out the way if we were playing football and a car comes,
Its not rocket science, but we dont want to stop children/teens from going out as we arent helping them long term either health wise or socially,
If we carry on the way we are in another 10 years time we will only know how to talk to people thru a keyboard and silly social sites,
Yes something needs to be done to keep teens entertained but driving them all indoors isn`t it.
But we do have dangers, People seem to think its more dangerous then it was 15/20 years ago,Not thru the believed pedo rings etc, its always been the same just not reported like today, yes maybe there is more traffic on the road but we used to MOVE out the way if we were playing football and a car comes,
Its not rocket science, but we dont want to stop children/teens from going out as we arent helping them long term either health wise or socially,
If we carry on the way we are in another 10 years time we will only know how to talk to people thru a keyboard and silly social sites,
Yes something needs to be done to keep teens entertained but driving them all indoors isn`t it.
20 February 2009, 10:03 AM
#11
Scooby Regular
they used to cycle around the village trying to protect it against Catholics
I don't think they ever caught one though
20 February 2009, 10:06 AM
#12
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: "Every one should have a friend called Dave - they're the human equivalent of a Swiss Army knife!!"
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I applaud you MJW. However, the children on the street I live on clearly have been taught nothing apart from keeping the ball etc away from mummy and daddys cars. Nothing gets said when they hit a ball against anyone elses car or crash their electric scooter into the side of a car causing clear and visible damage. I just don't understand some parents!
20 February 2009, 10:12 AM
#13
Scooby Regular
thats because parents never see any wrong in their children Prodriva unfortunately.
I bet you slag off at least one member of your immediate family to others, yet if heard anyone else do it you'd defend them to the hilt! its human nature unfortunately.
I cannot stand my mum, haven't spoke to her in about a year and have very little good to say about her but if you were to say one thing out of place about her, you'd end up in hospital. Unfortunately this works both ways with kids and parents.
I bet you slag off at least one member of your immediate family to others, yet if heard anyone else do it you'd defend them to the hilt! its human nature unfortunately.
I cannot stand my mum, haven't spoke to her in about a year and have very little good to say about her but if you were to say one thing out of place about her, you'd end up in hospital. Unfortunately this works both ways with kids and parents.
20 February 2009, 10:12 AM
#14
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: "Every one should have a friend called Dave - they're the human equivalent of a Swiss Army knife!!"
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe you'd prefer they stayed indoors, watched TV and played video games while drinking pop and eating crisps and chocolate!
As long as they're not playing on a busy main road, I really don't see the problem. I played on the street as a kid, the people who lived on the street drove slowly because they knew there were kids on the street. It helped build a stronger community and we were taught not to play near parked cars a) for our own safety and b) to stop us damaging the cars.
It does depend on the street, but generally, I'm all for it.
As long as they're not playing on a busy main road, I really don't see the problem. I played on the street as a kid, the people who lived on the street drove slowly because they knew there were kids on the street. It helped build a stronger community and we were taught not to play near parked cars a) for our own safety and b) to stop us damaging the cars.
It does depend on the street, but generally, I'm all for it.
My main concern is the attitude of todays car drivers. There are a couple of young new drivers down our road and to them it's maximum attack anywhere and everywhere. I am genuinely concerend for these kids safety because there is some real bad feelings towards them from owners who have had their cars and other property damaged because of their "games". The parents don't seem to care and when they are confronted they respond with agression and abuse.
20 February 2009, 10:44 AM
#15
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Radiator Springs
Posts: 14,810
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm all for kids getting out and playing, just not on the street. Streets are for driving cars on 
There's grass in lion enclosures, would you chuck your kid in there and insist they start a game of footie, jumpers for goal posts...
There's grass in lion enclosures, would you chuck your kid in there and insist they start a game of footie, jumpers for goal posts...
20 February 2009, 11:14 AM
#16
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Left to their own devices and without proper responsibility things go downhill fast.
5t.
20 February 2009, 11:31 AM
#17
It is safe, my kids are allowed to play on the pavement and in the front garden and as far as a particular limit (a bend in the road). Our street is a cul-de-sac with a number of other families also pets wander about. People don't drive fast. I think that anyone not allowing their kids out is depriving them of space and freedom. Granted not all streets are safe, but apparently no streets are safe according to the OP.
At the moment my kids are young and I only let them play out there when I am around (washing the car, working in the garage, in the garden, etc), but that's only becasue they occasionally hurt themselves (or hurt each other!). When they get older I will have no issue with letting them out there to play.
In fact I would prefer that to sitting indoors. I am teaching my kids to grow up with respect to property and other people, only by letting them out will they understand that. Keeping them in is restrictive and does not allow them to explore, and find, the limits. This is the opposite of letting them run riot outside. There is a happy medium.
At the moment my kids are young and I only let them play out there when I am around (washing the car, working in the garage, in the garden, etc), but that's only becasue they occasionally hurt themselves (or hurt each other!). When they get older I will have no issue with letting them out there to play.
In fact I would prefer that to sitting indoors. I am teaching my kids to grow up with respect to property and other people, only by letting them out will they understand that. Keeping them in is restrictive and does not allow them to explore, and find, the limits. This is the opposite of letting them run riot outside. There is a happy medium.
20 February 2009, 11:58 AM
#18
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
Posts: 14,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not so much a group of kids playing in a quiet cul-de-sac but the lone bored 8 year old kicking a ball at the garage on his drive. Ball bounces into road and kid runs after it. Splat.
There are some grassy areas where I am and without exception they have NO BALL GAMES signs stuck in the middle
dl
There are some grassy areas where I am and without exception they have NO BALL GAMES signs stuck in the middle
dl
20 February 2009, 12:21 PM
#19
We live in a cul de sac, the kids play out there in summer, as well as in our garden, most of the residents drive very slowly and they get pulled up if they dont. The kids play all sorts in the street and its not a problem, the adults have to defer to the kids on this one, basically we have the whole of the rest of the road network, we cant begrudge the kids 60 yards of cul de sac.
Ok if the kids are badly behaved or playing in a road that is unsuitable then there is an issue that needs dealing with , otherwise then I dont see the issue, remember a 30 mph limit, is just that, a limit, not a target or a right.
There seems to be an element in society that isnt able to share the roads, I am sorry but you will come across slower and more vulnerable things like kids, pedestrians, old people, the disabled, cyclists, Horse Riders and the like, its a fact of life, the roads cannot be kept free of anything apart from high powered cars, if you want to use the roads, accept this and ponder a while how much your journey time was added to by the list above or were you sat behind other cars most of the way, we need to accept others are fallible or less capable and drive accordingly, being in the right is no consolation if you kill a child, it is kind of unfair on motorists but thats the way it is, it is easier to take account of the prevailing conditions and keep at a safe speed than come to terms with death or injury and lets face it, most of the journey you can blast along on the motorway, in air conditioned luxury whilst listening to the stereo and still get from one end of the country to another probably averaging 60 plus.
Ok if the kids are badly behaved or playing in a road that is unsuitable then there is an issue that needs dealing with , otherwise then I dont see the issue, remember a 30 mph limit, is just that, a limit, not a target or a right.
There seems to be an element in society that isnt able to share the roads, I am sorry but you will come across slower and more vulnerable things like kids, pedestrians, old people, the disabled, cyclists, Horse Riders and the like, its a fact of life, the roads cannot be kept free of anything apart from high powered cars, if you want to use the roads, accept this and ponder a while how much your journey time was added to by the list above or were you sat behind other cars most of the way, we need to accept others are fallible or less capable and drive accordingly, being in the right is no consolation if you kill a child, it is kind of unfair on motorists but thats the way it is, it is easier to take account of the prevailing conditions and keep at a safe speed than come to terms with death or injury and lets face it, most of the journey you can blast along on the motorway, in air conditioned luxury whilst listening to the stereo and still get from one end of the country to another probably averaging 60 plus.
20 February 2009, 12:47 PM
#20
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: "Every one should have a friend called Dave - they're the human equivalent of a Swiss Army knife!!"
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
J4CKO, I understand your point. However, ponder this for a moment. Yesterday evening the parents were out front chatting to eachother over the garden hedge whilst their kiddies were playing hide and seek. Where's the problem in the I hear you say! Hiding UNDER cars, vans and the Ocado delivery truck in sheer madness and yes the parents continued to chat to each other with drinks a **** in hand! Responsible parents, I don't think so when they have a go at the Ocado driver for shouting at the kids hiding under his van!
20 February 2009, 01:30 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well ther parents sound like mongs to me.
they should be playing outside though.
prodriva doesnt have kids, when he has them he wil slow down and also change his opinion on things.
the older you get the wiser you get.
they should be playing outside though.
prodriva doesnt have kids, when he has them he wil slow down and also change his opinion on things.
the older you get the wiser you get.
20 February 2009, 01:54 PM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 39,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can understand the concern and it can be dangerous if the children are undisciplined and ignore the threat from cars.
I think children should be allowed to go out but at the same time I also think that we should be able to depend on the parents' sense of responsibility in that they take the trouble to teach their children how to keep themselves safe and also to think of others and not to cause damage to other people's property. That is what parents should do of course.
This is the crux of the matter I think, and how well can we trust that the children have in fact been taught these days in so many cases as I said above?
Les
Les
I think children should be allowed to go out but at the same time I also think that we should be able to depend on the parents' sense of responsibility in that they take the trouble to teach their children how to keep themselves safe and also to think of others and not to cause damage to other people's property. That is what parents should do of course.
This is the crux of the matter I think, and how well can we trust that the children have in fact been taught these days in so many cases as I said above?
Les
Les
20 February 2009, 02:08 PM
#24
I sort of get what the op is saying but surly its down to drivers? just because an area is a 30 don't mean u do 30, there needs to be some common since with driving. I'm always extra vigilant around estates especial round my way when I know there's lots of kids out playing, makes me sick when I see people hurtling about at 30 or over especially when there's parked cars and blind bends etc, what are these people thinking?
At the same time though the children should have some basic road awareness given to them by parents too. yes kids do some stupid things some times but I'm shor most accidents with kids are the drivers fault, most the kids round my way play on open strait sections of road, or if they are on a corner they stop playing when they hear a car about.
At the same time though the children should have some basic road awareness given to them by parents too. yes kids do some stupid things some times but I'm shor most accidents with kids are the drivers fault, most the kids round my way play on open strait sections of road, or if they are on a corner they stop playing when they hear a car about.
20 February 2009, 02:11 PM
#25
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: "Every one should have a friend called Dave - they're the human equivalent of a Swiss Army knife!!"
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
. There is a time and a place for everything and playing footie or chase at 5.30-6pm isn't really sensible as that's the time people are arriving home from work.I'm just staggered by these parents lack of responsibility for their children. It really is astounding how little thought for their own neighbours they have and their childrens wellbeing.
20 February 2009, 03:27 PM
#26
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,546
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone fancy a game of Knock off Ginger 
I noticed this year how quiet it was in the streets compared to when i was a child. They dont play out and show off their new presents to their friends anymore, instead they ring them up on their mobiles, send them a message on facebook and go on xbox live for a few games of Fifa.
I noticed this year how quiet it was in the streets compared to when i was a child. They dont play out and show off their new presents to their friends anymore, instead they ring them up on their mobiles, send them a message on facebook and go on xbox live for a few games of Fifa.
20 February 2009, 04:47 PM
#27
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Slowly rebuilding the kit of bits into a car...
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I was a kid, A.D. not B.C. before you start....
We would round up an itinerant parent, cross a main road and play football all hours of the day and evening. We had several parents on shifts, medics, coppers, factory workers, so usually someone to keep half an eye on us.
As a streetwise kid I drove like an adult when I passed my test. Not hooning around in built-up areas like they do now.
dunx
dunx
We would round up an itinerant parent, cross a main road and play football all hours of the day and evening. We had several parents on shifts, medics, coppers, factory workers, so usually someone to keep half an eye on us.
As a streetwise kid I drove like an adult when I passed my test. Not hooning around in built-up areas like they do now.
dunx
dunx
20 February 2009, 06:45 PM
#28
where are my kids supposed to play then ? the council sold off all the green land for houses where i live and the nearest play area is across a road that has more traffic than a lane of the m6. if you teach your children right then you shouldnt have any problems with them playing near a road
20 February 2009, 07:02 PM
#29
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live in a close populated by young families and as there is no through traffic all the kids play out. All drivers know kids are playing therefore never had any incidents. All kids are told to respect other peoples cars etc so no problems there either.
If we lived on a busy road i suppose things would be a lot different.
Nik.
If we lived on a busy road i suppose things would be a lot different.
Nik.
20 February 2009, 07:37 PM
#30
Scooby Regular
My kids play on the street, the youngest who is two and half has enough road sense to stand on our garden when he hears a car coming. He watches the car go past before starting to play again.
I have no problem with it, but each street and each kid is different.
I have no problem with it, but each street and each kid is different.