Nanny Staters have made playgrounds too safe

Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 10:03 AM

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Most people with a lick of sense, could tell you we have been insulating our children from the realities of life for far too long. The results of this over protective insulation are being reflected in our society.

The nanny state has gradually tried to ban dodge ball, tag and sports in general in some schools, because "educators" say they can be too "risky" & "dangerous". Additionally, these games can promote a winner and loser mentality and some children might feel "left out". So we can't have any losers in nanny state land.

A new study suggests that efforts to regulate playgrounds into "safety first" areas, may actually stunt children's development. The "new "risk free" playgrounds that have replaced the playgrounds of our youth reflect this attitude. Children are being deprived of challenges and a sense of accomplishment by not allowing them to face challenges on the playgrounds. This over protective mentality can leave children with a sense of anxiety and fear that is far more harmful than cuts, scrapes or broken bones.

We grew up with rope swings from a tree, ten foot high play structures, playground teeter totters and swings, bike riding, tag, dodge ball and contact sports. Our trusty dogs followed us everywhere playing right along with us. We learned the "ropes" early, through trial and error, via: cuts, scrapes, dog bites, an occasional broken bone, just how to play with others and how to compete.

We found at an early age there were consequences to bad decisions, especially those decisions involving fire and touching. Heights and falling. Speed and collisions.

In our childhood we discovered the art of competition, what a sense of accomplishment we felt to win by our own efforts. But very importantly, what it felt like to lose and suffer those consequences. But the key to losing was to learn from the experience and get back in the game and try again and again. That was so preparatory for what we would expect in the real world.

You can witness the result of the nanny state as America drowns in debt trying to prop up a society where there can be no losers. We bail out companies, institutions & governments that are "too big to fail". We reward the bad behavior which lead those entities to failure in the first place.

The real playground of life has winners and losers and occasionally you get cuts, scapes and broken bones. Deal with it.

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:

http://www.carrollstandard.com/

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jamieLM | Jul 20, 2011, 11:30 AM EDT

Mr. Farnan, you make some valid points. I agree with you that some of these restrictions lack common sense and have gone too far. Times have changed, however. In the U.S. there are now 5 attorneys for every victim, just waiting to file a zillion lawsuits on behalf of the injured child and the parents. "We'll sue the state, the city, the park board or the school board, the makers of the play equipment,..." As a mother, I'm glad that playgrounds have been made safer because as an RN I've seen too many unnecessary tragedies. There are other ways to "toughen up" a kid and there's a middle ground. My boys wear helments when they ride their dirt bikes because I know they do jumps while riding and often ride too fast. I let my younger twin girls climb on our backyard fort/swingset/slide that's anchored, not into cement, but into sand and grass. They've all taken their share of bumps and falls, but nothing serious. Is it really possible to protect kids 24/7? I don't think so. Things happen and kids are ever resourceful to find a way around the rules.

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