is the McCann effect here to stay or just a passing trend?...?

Question

and what effect is it going to have on our country?. Are we eventually going to end up a nation of people who can't do anything for themselves?
"The McCann effect" has really made people think and act in a very weird way, common sense has gone out the window. People are so terrified of how other people will judge them as parents to the extent that they don't let their kids be normal.

I live in a in UK city. Today, I went to walk my kids to the bus stop to pop them on a bus to school. My son is 11 and my daughter is 9. Their school is a mile away, I walk them to the bus stop near our home, they walk 200 yards to the school at the other side

Just as I had jumped off the bus having payed their fare and waved them bye, this woman said to me "you let them go by themselves?" and started tutting and giving me the stink-eye. I let them do things for themselves because they have to learn in gradual stages . If I deprived them of that wouldn't it be unkind?

The bus is actually a public bus but it is used by many local high school kids and some primary school kids too. I started letting them go on it around 3 months ago because my son starts high school in September and I wanted him to gradually get used to taking a bus alone. My daughter wanted to go with him and I see that as ok because they do walk together sometimes even with friends. what im concerned about is that parents may sometimes want to allow their kids more responsibility but recently choose not to because of the social pressure not to- rather than doing what they feel is best for their children. This seems to be a recent development as I never came across this attiude before the McCann incident. I just thought that it could be interesting to discuss what effect that could potentially have on the state of tour society. None of my comments are in any way ment to judge anyone. I'm just interested in what people's take on it is. I welcome all your comments : )

I let them get on the bus because it's going to make my son's transition into secondary school easier if he can at least be familiar with one aspect of the routine in preparation. I will not be able to take him there myself because my daughter is only 9 and will need me to make sure she gets to her school at the very least partially supervised if not fully so I can't be in two places at once. I collect them from school and after school club myself or their dad does it in his car. They don't come home alone currently, letting them take the bus in the morning is just a small introduction to independance on my part. I do feel the pressure recently to take them myself at all times, but I think that them taking the bus is more benefical than it is detrimental to their personal development. My point is that even though I am a responsible and caring parent I feel the pressure that the McCann case has caused, and I do not think that it is really all that easy for parents to resist.

Answer 1

The McCanns have brought some awful people out from under the stones, anyone who hates the McCanns after their child may now be with a paedophile ring needs medical attention
The McCanns have admitted their mistake several times but this does not stop the vitriol
Yes UK society may be changing perhaps due to a recent change in ethnicity

Answer 2

I hear you. Everything is a trial by media nowadays. I can understand that the media coverage of Maddys disappearence was designed to frighten or shame the person that took her into giving her back, but must every move and facial expression the McCanns make be available for people to judge? It makes you wonder how the human race has survived all this parental neglect and abuse - I do mean letting kids play alone, go to school on their own - the horror! You're right that the next generation of kids are going to be so mollycoddled that they won't be able to do anything for themselves - how awful.

D.
X

Answer 3

Well, if you educate your children you should not feel concerned. We can't raise them to fear the world, but we can raise them to be able to protect themselves from predator's and unsafe situations. If you have already educated them, if you encounter this again you can simply reply that you teach your children about safety.

EDIT:
Madgal, turning you head in a public place and leaving numerous evenings for supper when you children are alone and under the age of 4, are 2 different things. If those were your kids the McCann's were watching, would you be ok if that was your daughter? would you still be ok that they left her alone to eat dinner? Due to that, she went missing? We are talking about two little 2 year olds and a 4 year old not 9 and 11. Older children have the ability to fight back if they are educated and as the asker has said, teaching them and giving them freedom, as they get OLDER.

Answer 4

Don't take any notice of the stupid comment made.
I am afraid it is the way things have become.
" The McCann effect ", has no doubt contributed towards
awareness,but in the wrong way, completely out of proportion.
Society itself, in my view, has changed for the Worse.
Media, with its propoganda contributes to its declination of "Values".
Perhaps, it's My Age.But 50 years ago, as a child, things
were safer, much happier, less complicated. I used to have to
do the shopping for My Mum @ 4 yrs old, she couldn't walk.
Take My Sister to school on the bus, she was 4, I was 7.
But ,people were more kind, friendly, helpful,thoughtful, trustworthy, in those days.
Pity they can't be revived ?
.

Answer 5

Yeah funny that all these sitings are only being mentioned now, 2 years later. I wouldn't mind but half of the eye witness accounts are from direct friends of the McCanns. The story is getting more and more obscure.

Answer 6

I would just ignore that pathetic comment and don't give it another thought,
You can't wrap your kids up in cotton wool, they have to learn how to deal with the outside world on their own, otherwise what will they do when your not there to protect them.

I am happy that my 8 year old son is very street wise now, he wasn't last year as we lived in a very quiet cul-de-sac but now I totally trust him to go out side with his friends and play away from the house.

Bottom line is your children are old enough the McCanns children certainly are not.

Answer 7

i agree with you we have to let our kids do something for themselves as they will not survive the world alone if didnt.my boy is starting seniors this year and i have never let him on a bus alone,having 6 children and his school offer being 9 miles away i have no choice but to let him go alone he is happy to do this and im happy thatr he will have some indapendance where do we draw the line,its horriable people in this world that make it hard for us parents and for the kids we should all be able to do what we want and feel safe doing it.whaen i was younger we never had all this crap that goes around now.and i do let my 9 year old walk home 20min walk from after school club he has a phone so i can check they are ok and on way home if i never they would miss out on something they enjoy.although them parents shouldnt of left that little girl alone but no one should of stole her either.

Answer 8

I've got to say this, after reading the responses to your question, your kids are absolutely not too young to go on the schoool bus and walk 200 metres to school the other end! With a bus load of children! Whoever agreed with that lady who tutted at you, must be such a 100% overprotective parent that her kids must be pulling their hair out. Sadly bad things do happen in the world. But if we all live our lives expecting something terrible to happen, then we really aren't living at all. x

Answer 9

I give my children freedom, but I had so much more as a child. Many folk would not allow their 7 yr old to ride his bike on the few mile circuit around out counstyside, but I will. You will never get your children to grow up independant if you dont give them freedom and they have to make their own mistakes. You do your best but there is always room for errors.
The MCanns need to look at those that may have been envying them

Answer 10

The McCann Effect is NOT because of the McCanns. It is because so many people have swore blind now that they NEVER leave their children out of their sight for not even one minute. If they admitted that they do, they may just have to stop being so sanctomonious & judgemental of the parents actions. And they have got such a thrill out of that they are apparently addicted to it now.

So you allow your children to live and be children. This is not a sick world because parents allow their children to play outside or out of sight. It is a sick world because there are people who are just waiting for an oppurtunity to steal a child.