what do you think happens when the kids are left alone to just play?

[gr8fl4porsche]

Originally posted by legion
played with Legos. Most of the time we would steal building supplies from the houses under construction and build forts in the woods...I remember BMX races with my friends...

That is exactly what we used to do!!

[Porschephile944]

last thing, if and when I have kids, and I live in the country or slowpoke suburbia, no way my kids are wearing bike helmets.

As a person who has broken many a bike helmets within the last 19 years, doing some stupid and some not so stupid things you might want to serisouly reconsider.

[dhoward]

Bush hates bike helmets.

[Saintly]

Not wearing a helmet is the fastest way to not learn from a mistake.
I have split a helmet in two from a part failure that no one could have predicted. Saved my life so that i can go on and do more stupid things.

[MFAFF]

Who ever siad you can't have quality parent time and make sure your kids enjoy it....these guys are so easy to get interested in the tihngs that WE as parents are interested in....its all about training....

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by Saintly
Not wearing a helmet is the fastest way to not learn from a mistake.
I have split a helmet in two from a part failure that no one could have predicted. Saved my life so that i can go on and do more stupid things.

I appreciate your thoughts, and indeed my future wife would ensure proper protection. Some points to ponder... note the environment I set up... rural or low-traffic suburbia. We survived just fine in the 70s, only have a stitch on my chin from going over the handlebars once and a rock in my knee that will be there forever.

And I understand bike helmets are very important in any kind of trafficked area. I used to ride competitively as well as commuting and have been hit many times by cars. the top 3:

Woke up in a pool of blood. 21 stitches over left eye. surprisingly helmet was "unused." I have no idea what happened but looking at the bike, I was hit from the rear.

Trucking along, car in opposite direction takes a left into a driveway through my direction traffic. He didn't see me, I broadsided his car. A stitches in my balls. Cup would have been helpful.

Going 30+ down a hill, car runs a red light, I broadside him, fly a solid 20 feet. A few scuffs and scrapes. Had to walk to work with my crashed bike, car sped away.

I guess in the spirit of the thread, or perhaps another one... What did you do as a kid that you would never let them do now" I voiced something that isn't really popular, that is I think we over-protect kids these days. that's all.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by john_cramer
If you had a family friend that you trusted, and left alone with your kids, and you came home one day and found out that this friend had been telling the kids sex stories, tales of violence, and accounts of drug use, while instilling crappy values, a lack of civic responsibility and no exercise, how long would you allow that situation to continue?

And yet this is what we do with our televisions...

John, that is a great analogy.

I was home sick on Monday, and spent most of the day in bed watching the tube. I’m sure I suffered brain damage… you can almost feel your brain turning to goo when you watch sitcoms or talk shows. Fear Factor is a real hoot… do something scary, then eat something gross… how boring. How long before someone eats their own poo on TV?

I think it’s cool so many people have mentioned Lego (especially Technic Lego) , and a few have mentioned Erector sets (is that the same as Meccano?) I grew up on this stuff, as I bet a lot of folks on this board did too. My father is sure his sons are mechanically and technically inclined because of these toys… plus Capsella. We’d build things, see how they worked, take them apart. We also had chemistry sets & electronic sets… no question that’s how we learned that stuff.

Look at what kids play with nowadays… friggen video games. Kids are raised watching TV and playing video games… no wonder they can’t sit still.

I also remember that when we were kids, if we expressed interest in ANYTHING, our parents would explore it with us. One day my brother asked how store bought bread gets sliced, and a week later we were at a bread factory for a tour. If we wanted a tree fort, dad got us lumber and helped us. When I expressed interest in cars my parents bought me books and tools.

I know we did watch TV, and probably too much. I can remember complaining about missing Saturday cartoons or the Dukes of Hazzard. But I don’t have any fond memories of watching TV… I can’t say I gained anything from hours in front of the tube. I think that’s where parents need to be responsible… just because their kids WANT to watch TV doesn’t mean they need to let them.

This is an awesome thread, glad to see something so many people agree on.

[Rikao4]

My medical curiosity began when I wanted to know where that voice came from inside my sister's doll,Knife and my first autopsy= voice can, that when rotated made noise.TV,Germany had terrible TV,so ...what to do..let's talk..when we had the chance to get one..we passed.I can still make a Napoleon cap out of newspaper, did this for my nieces....they were so amazed..
Rika

[adamred]

I second (or third, or fourth) the lego comments, my brother and I would spend hours on opposite sides of my parents marble entry-way floor building "massives" homemade lego tanks on wheels. We'd then spend minutes shooting them towards each other until you broke the other's apart and it couldn't drive anymore. Break em apart reinforce for the next time and go again...

Whenever we visit my folks (he's 27, I'm 34) someone still points to the lego bucket and says wanna go for a round of "massives"

On another note, my 3.5 year old son loves to play, he has an essential genetic need to play with toys, it is great. Came home the other day and he proudly showed me the building he built with Lincoln Logs (remember those?), darn near brought a tear to me eye....BTW he could give a rats ass about TV....

[304065]

Has anyone noticed that both Lego and the Erector Set are now designed to build a particular OBJECT that RESEMBLES the OBJECT?

Take, for example, the Erector Saturn V rocket. Curved panels, etc., it looks like a Saturn V rocket.

The OLD erector set, well, it would have looked more like the Empire State Building, because you had to build it out of discrete straight pieces.
Using your IMAGINATION you filled in the rest.

How old do they have to be before they can learn to stick-weld?

[Seahawk]

Raising children is an interesting balance between order and mayhem. Keep them too safe, shelter them from every storm, and they never get out of pampers. Raise them like wolves and you get, wolves.
My advice: love your wife, love your kids, pay attention, set standards and teach your kids self reliance and respect.
Then accept the fact that nirvana is just a band and that adjustments will need to be made.
I wouldn't trade a second.