Do Parents Give Their Children Too Much Freedom?

Question

what do you think?

i would love to hear from both sides! :)

Please & Thank You

Answer 1

That's a very general question.  Historically, children have always had more freedom than they do today.  In agricultural societies, they were often assigned adult chores, put in charge of caring for younger siblings, and given free run of the farm.  Even a few generations ago, children were allowed to walk or bike all over their neighborhoods and towns without supervision. My sibs and I were sent to "play outside" with little structured activity. We made up our own games and played with our neighbors. We only came home when we were hungry.  We didn't have cell phones.  But there was seldom any trouble.  Our parents probably worried, but they knew we could walk into any corner store or gas station and find an adult who would help us if we needed it.  Chances were, those adults knew us or our parents.  

Today, kids spend nearly all their time in organized activities, play dates, child care, and school.  Parents put GPS trackers in their phones and cars.  They live in constant fear of predators and child molesters.

And there are other constraints. Many kids' whole childhood is focused on preparing for college. From preschool on, parents pressure them to get into in the right schools, participate in as many activities as possible, achieve, achieve, achieve, apply to two dozen colleges, and then choose the perfect one, as if it will matter in 10 years. At the opposite end of the spectrum,  other kids spend their childhood locked inside their apartments, for fear that they will get shot, accosted or raped by a gang, or offered drugs.  And ALL kids are pressured by the media to conform to sophisticated, sexual, adult-like images from about the age of 5.

So in my opinion, children and teens have much less freedom than in the past, and I think it's too bad.  So much of childhood has been lost in recent generations.  The freedom to spend their childhood as CHILDREN, to have their own social world without interference from adults, and to live without fear or pressure - all of that seems to be gone.

Answer 2

i dunno, sometimes my mum didn't interfere in my life and other times she did , all in all she did give me alot of freedom , the only time we butted heads was over a close freind of mine she didnt like

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Answer 3

I think some kids get too much freedom. They are glued to the telveision, video games, or computers for far too long! They just can't express their imaginations and appreciate all the beautiful things outside if they are addicted to new technologies. Six-year-olds seem to be walking around with mobile phones and iPods more and more.

Back in MY day...! Lol.

Answer 4

I think maybe too little freedom as small kids, and too much as teens.  They need to have some unsupervised play time with others to really learn to work out conflicts when they're little, but parents should always know where their teenager is.

Answer 5

My kids definitely had a lot less freedom than I did as a child.  We were outside playing all day every day - my mother used to tell us to be back for dinner at 5 and that was it!  I never let me kids out of my sight when they were younger - I was soooo worried about all the wierdo people in the world these days.  So no, I think a lot of kids have less freedom - not to mention the parents who seem to have to fill up their kids' entire free time with organised activities.  Seems kids aren't allowed to use their imagination much any more.

Answer 6

yes some do but parenting has changed over the years and so have children so you need to give your children a little freedom and space but not too much that it becomes a problem

Answer 7

I think in my community parents give their kids too little freedom.  With adult-scripted extra-curriculars, adult-choreographed playdates, and school and homework filling up every minute of kids' lives, there's not enough time left for kids to figure out who they are.

Answer 8

No!!!!! Of course I'm a teen so I might think differently...

Answer 9

Yes and no.  I live in the deep south. Our children don;t play out side and everything is scheduled.  I went back home and saw how children live in NYC. they play with each other in groups, ride bikes and so on. It was very different from wwhat goes on in my neighborhood. We are all so terrified of abductions and pedophiles we dont let our children out.  

Answer 10

well my daughter is only 5, but I will admit that I think I allow her more than my mother allowed me. It felt like we were limited to fun times, and I don't know I just feel like we do more than my mom and dad did with me growing up.

Answer 11

Not mine, they give me enough freedom but not over doing it. Of course as a child I'd want to be able to go and come as I please, but I think my parents are fair. However, I do sometimes wish they were like my friend's parents that let them do as please lol. Then I have other friends that can't go out past 7 haha jk but they have to be home early and stuff.  

Answer 12

i think parents are afraid to parent.  i teach in a school where if a student gets suspended, he comes in the next day with a new pair of shoes because mom took him shopping on his day off.  freedom?  when you're 12, you don't have freedom.  growing up my mother knew all of my friends, all of their parents, had all their phone numbers, and when i said i was going to julie's house, she called julie's mom to make sure she was home and let her know i was coming over.  i knew i was to call and let her know if plans changed...and God forbid i didn't...i wouldn't see the light of day for weeks!  that was 15-20 years ago when parents still cared.  but now...we wonder why children now behave the way they do, and it's because the parents aren't parenting!  parents give their children things to get them to shut up and get out of their hair.  and then they wonder why they nag them all the time.  what did you think would happen?  they're teaching their children that if you whine, eventually you'll get what you want...so they're going to whine about everything!  and seriously...is there a reason your 6 year old needs a cell phone?  where is she going that you're not with her?  does your 12 year old really need 2 carats worth of diamonds in his ears?  come on now!  it's ridiculous!  parents are too worried about being too strict, and no one wants to be the mean parent.  i don't want to tkae my child out for a walk after dark though because someone didn't want to be the mean parent.  have you noticed crime rates in the past years?  WAY higher...since people didn't want to be the mean parent.  freedom...when you get your own house, THEN you can have freedom.