Over to the right here you see the actual poll I had up all last week. I have made a change to make it more interesting and to give us all a better picture as to where we all stand vis a vis letting our kids do dangerous, wacky things.16 people answered the poll. However, I don't really feel that that's a big enough sample of people. In a previous poll, 19 people answered and although I appreciate everyone who bothers to respond, still, I thought that it would be more fun to pretend that each vote represented 1,000 people. 19,000 people voted in that poll. So, in keeping with that line of thinking, I shall now pretend that the 16 votes cast in this poll REALLY are 16,000.
Let's look at the results together, shall we? Let's keep positive and report from the most to the least number of votes for the respective categories. OK?
Of the 16,000 people who voted, fully 100% (or 16,000 people) felt that it would be fine for a 7 year old to sew.
87% (14,000 people) thought that a 7 year old could say, make a grilled cheese sandwich at the stove and then go build a bird house. Which, by the way, would make for a fun afternoon--wouldn't it?
68% (11,000 people) felt it would be OK for a 7 year old to light a candle.
62% (10,000 people) felt that all of the following were OK: using a sharp knife, riding a bike around the block (I didn't specify alone, but that's what I was thinking when I asked the question...), tending a fire, or using pruners or other garden tools.
56% (9,000 people) thought that a 7 year old could use a cordless drill. All of this depends of course on the child, and the situation...both of our kids have done this.
And lastly, only 43% (7,000 people) felt it would be OK for a 7 year old to use a hand saw...our kids have done this as well.
How do you guys read this? For example, almost 2/3 of the voters would let their kids ride a bike and tend a fire. But that means a little more than a 1/3 would not.
Do you think our kids are overprotected, or just protected? If they are overprotected, how would that manifest itself? Would it necessarily be negative? Would these kids be less confident or more nervous or timid or more confused?
What do you think? Do you agree with the 16,000 people who voted in this poll?
Thanks voters! Rock the vote!
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2 comments:
Hi Laura! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks a spontaneously combusting laundry machine would be awesome. =)
This is an interesting poll...I think I probably did all those things when I was a 7 year old, except for maybe the cordless drill one, because I doubt we owned one then. (I have a corded one now, and I love it, haha.) As clumsy as I am, I managed not to injure myself. =)
I think kids can handle much more than we give them credit for. I still feel very protective of my kids, but I also appreciate that they have a pretty good sense of what feels safe for their own bodies.
They seldom go past their own comfort zone. You can see them stop climbing up a tree, or making sure they have both hands on the monkey bars, to make sure they feel safe.
They can be clumsy, like their mama, but they try to keep themselves safe. They're not reckless.
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