Think twice before giving these things to your kids
They may be riskier than you think.
Originally published in the Moultrie News.
I see all the stuff my kids have now that we didn’t have growing up, and honestly, some of it seems pretty risky. I’m not trying to overprotect them, but I also don’t want them getting hurt. Are there just some things kids shouldn’t have access to?
Every parent has to answer that question for themselves — there are few black and white answers. But if we examine today’s playthings with a critical eye, we’ll see several items that should give us pause.
Before listing some, it’s instructive to observe the inconsistency in today’s parenting. On one hand, Gen Z is regarded as the most bubble-wrapped generation in history. Today’s parents are terrified about what their kids eat, how comfortable they feel, who they’re talking to, and what achievements they earn. As a result, children are raised in highly structured environments by hovering adults.
But on the other hand, the items listed below — which have shown to cause clear harm — are common. Some ascribe the discrepancy to parental peer pressure and weak critical thinking. If Dad sees that the neighbor’s kid has a rocket-fueled tricycle, his son must have one, too. Meanwhile, if Mom sees on TikTok that hot dogs cause liver explosions, she accepts the judgment without skepticism.
The remedy to that, of course, is to focus on your own kids and take everything you hear with a grain of salt. Go ahead. Try it. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
On to our list of things parents might want to think twice about before giving them to their kids.
• Tablets for tots — While parents obsess over organic snacks, they’re handing toddlers and young children tablets, which studies show can delay the development of language, communication, emotional control, and problem-solving skills. Preschool teachers I know attest to these dangers.
• Credit/debit cards — Managing personal finances is more important than ever, but credit over cash doesn't help. According to many financial experts, cards encourage impulse spending, lack of accountability, and entitlement, while instilling in kids harmful misconceptions about debt. They’re also a security risk for the whole family. Consider sticking with cash, which helps kids’ undeveloped brains process income and expenditures more literally.
• E-Bikes and E-Scooters — Judging from my neighborhood, parents are thrilled that their children can go 30 mph while popping wheelies on noiseless bikes. But will they still feel that way when Junior’s brains are splattered over the asphalt? Just this year, I’ve seen a broken collarbone, two broken arms, and serious road rash in my classes thanks to e-vehicles. (Also, parents: Your babies will survive if they have to manually pedal their bikes. The exercise is good. Really.)
• Prom houses — Many parents think they’re safe, and with proper adult supervision, they can be. But experts say that unsupervised prom house rentals present significant risks to teens, leading to publicly reported instances of physical injuries, sexual assaults, and fatalities due to alcohol poisoning. They’ve also been the source of legal problems relating to liability, noise violations, and underage drinking. So maybe supervised houses that parents already own would be better options.
• Smartphones — Science and I have written plenty about the damage Smartphones do to kids. Parents seem to feel about phones the way many feel about the lottery: though it’s clear that winning it is a curse that destroys lives and families, we’re certain it wouldn’t happen to us. Good luck. Maybe your child will be one of the few who is in no way whatsoever negatively affected by smartphones’ fast-pass access to social media, pornography, predators, screen addiction, and sleep deprivation. But it’s doubtful.
A good rule of thumb is to be patient and do your research. Kids love trends, but why let your child be the guinea pig? Research the potential dangers of things you have no firsthand knowledge about and decide according to your child’s best interests. Your utterance of two letters — “OK” or “no” — could affect the balance of their lives.
Choose wisely.
Jody Stallings has been an award-winning teacher in Charleston since 1992 and is director of the Charleston Teacher Alliance. To submit a question, order his books, or follow him on social media, please visit JodyStallings.com.
One of the kids at a nearby elementary school just died in an ebike accident :( Sad stuff.