Many parents today want to do everything they can to protect their child from the dangers of the world. Today, more than ever before (or so it seems), there are so many more risks and dangers that our kids are faced with. Everything from the microscopic germs that can lead to strep throat, the flu, and more, to more tangible dangers like guns, school violence, bullies, drugs, and more. In an ideal world, we could wrap our children in a little bubble and allow them to live a truly carefree life free of troubles, stresses, and dangers.
Some parents truly do make their best effort at the idyllic “bubble world” scenario. Some home school their kids not because they think it’s better for their education and future, but because they feel it is safer. Some don’t let their kids watch certain cartoons on TV, to listen to certain music, or to play with certain kids from the neighborhood. Some only allow their kids to eat a Vegan diet and lather their child with sunscreen before spending even a minute outdoors.
Every parent has their own levels they go to in order to keep their children safe, and certainly we want to do what we can for the health and well being of our children. Yet parents may want to pause and consider if you are taking precautions to an extreme. Consider these points:
Some Stress Is Good. The fact is that stress from dealing with life situations builds character. Learning how to deal with small amounts of stress in childhood creates adults that are more able to deal with the far more stressful situations that the real world confronts us with.
Learning From Life. Kids one day will grow into adults, and at some point you will not be there to supervise and protect your child. Kids who learn how to confront situations like bullies, who learn that TV and video games don’t equate to the real world, and who learn healthy eat habits, for example, are those make better choices as adults, and because you allowed them to learn as a child, you can rest easier when they are adults in knowing that they are out in the world making great choices on their own.
Standing On Their Own. Most parents today would love to raise a child who grows to be an ethical, level-headed, and completely independent adult. One a child’s eighteenth birthday, this does not magically happen but instead only takes place through your guidance. More often than not, children who grow into such independent adults are those who have parents who expose them to life with all of its punches but yet who are there to offer guidance, advice, and that occasional bit of protection when life does become a bit too rough for a child.
There is a point to which every parent should indeed shelter and protect their children, and yet there is also a point when a parents’ protective measures prevent a child from learning how to deal with real-life situations. This is, of course, a fine balance that is often difficult for parents who want to keep their kids safe from that big, bad world, but in the long run finding that balance is in your child’s best interest.
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