mes Am I too much of a paranoid parent?

Question

I have a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old. I am very stern on them not playing in the street or crossing the street without an adult. I also dont let them play in the front yard unless I or my husband is out there working on the yard or doing something to atleast keep an eye on them at the same time. I see other kids 5 yrs old playing in the street and some 3 yr olds running around freely throught the neighborhood. So, it gets me wondering if I am too paranoid and if I am keeping my children from being normal. I do know that there is a registered sex offender living in the neighborhood and that is something I worry about too.

Answer 1

I did not let me son play out in the street until he started secondary school and my daughter is 8 now and I will not let her out of the garden. Its a sad sign of the times but better to keep them safe until they undertstand the world a bit better.

Answer 2

NO WAY!!! I am a mother of 3 and I am exactly like you. Maybe if we all lived in a perfect world then we would not have to be terrified of letting our kids play out front. Not only do we now have to consider that there are an increasing number of child sex offenders but also that there are now a lot of high powered cars driven by young inconsiderate people who tear around the neighbourhood. Yes I see those other kids playing in the streets where I live too - maybe they do have more fun, but at least we now that our kids are safe and I would say they will turn out alot smarter than those left to roam the streets. You do what you know is the right thing - to protect your kids from the danger they don't yet understand. Keep them well supervised and educate them on the dangers of this modern world.

Answer 3

Parental supervision is too often lacking! I think you are doing fine, your children are still too young to make judgements about crossing the street. Begin teaching the six year old how to cross the street safely.
Having a registered sex offender in the neighborhood is a huge concern! That alone would require a very watchful parent especially if the offender is a pedifile. You can call you're local police and ask for the website where you can get more information about the person.

Answer 4

I'm not a parent...and everybody says that you give the best parenting advice before you become a parent so I hope I'm helping = I don't think you're being paranoid at all. When I was growing up, my cousins and I were taught about strangers and crossing the street. I think 6 & 3 is too young for them to be outside unsupervised, sex offender or not. I think it's safer when there's more kids. When you have a group that wants to play together, maybe that will ease your mind. Other than that I see nothing wrong. You are teaching them well to be careful about strangers and the street...you could have saved their life already.

Answer 5

No, you are being a concerned and loving parent. I HATE when I see small children running around outside without supervision. These are the children that the psychos see first, as they are alone and unattended by a capable adult. I will not let my kids even out in the yard if I am not out with them. I will bring them in the house with me if I have to come in for any reason and I make sure they are NEVER EVER near the road. Hmmm.....maybe I am paranoid? Better to be safe than sorry I think. Kudos to you.

Answer 6

I think it is normal not to let them play in the street. I don't think it it is normal not to let them (or at least the 6 year old) play in the front yard, and the best thing will be to explain to them (or at least to the 6 years old) how to watch for cars before crossing the street, so the 6 year old can do it by himself.

Answer 7

It's OK to be a bit paranoid. You need to start letting go in little bits. Maybe let the kids play in the yard while you can keep an eye on them through the window. Take it in small steps - show your kids that you trust them and they will respect the trust later in life when the stakes are higher.

Answer 8

You are being a great parent. If you do not protect your children then who will. This world is full of crazy people who like to hurt children. Protect your children as a matter of fact you should keep an eye on the neighborhood children running wild also, someone needs to look out for them if their parents aren't.

Answer 9

I understand how you feel even though we don't have a sex offender in our neighborhood. I wouldn't say you are being paranoid, you are just showing love and care and concern for your kids and thats what mothers do. You have to teach them how to say no to strangers and to not to leave with anyone no matter if its a family member. I treat my son the same way. I try to show him that I trust him, though, but I have to give him a pep talk before he goes outside to play. Something has just happen to my son and before this happen, I was and still is teaching him not to let anyone touch his private parts and if they do what to do. So when this happen and he told me about it he did exactly what I told him to do and that was to tell someone and to tell me or his dad and to say stop and hit that person. So no I don't think you are a pranoid parent, you are just doing what most parents do--being protective.

Answer 10

First of all, is it worth all of that minor trouble of watching your kids, to keep them from getting kidnapped, or kid/killed by a car. I say, that what ever that you feel is "safe", then do it. Those are your children, you should not take them likely. Your doing the right thing.

And on that registered sex offender. I would either leave, or make him/her leave. Usually, sex offenders, no matter how much jail time/treatment they recieve, most of the time they end up doing it all over again.