J. Stauffer

<<< I think receiving a walker would be a diff. matter for me. They are
dangerous in my books. ... It would likely be disasembled and tossed first
chance I got though.>>>

See, now all my kids played with all kinds of stuff that people talk about
being dangerous. None of them have ever got hurt with it. Hurt with other
stuff, but not the things I was warned about.

We have a very shallow creekbed at the very back of our 2 acres that
occassionally has a trickle of water in it. The people behind us have a
small bridge running across the creekbed. We have been having major septic
problems requiring lots of my time and attention right now (should be fixed
by tomorrow). So my kids had gone to the creek to play. They are 7, 5 and
4. Remind you this is our backyard with no streets anywhere in sight even
and those that are close may have 4 cars per day.

I get a call from the people behind us. My kids were sitting on their
bridge and it is dangerous. I apologized for my kids being in her yard
(there is no visible demarkation of property) and told her I would retrieve
them. She goes on to tell me that their playing in the creek is dangerous,
they are too small to be unsuperivised.....they were in their own backyard
(mostly)!

She was horrified.

I was thrilled that my kids were happily occupied while I had to tend to
unpleasant chores.

Different world views....can't say that one of us was wrong and the other
right.

Julie S.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Dawn Adams" <Wishbone@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 12:23 PM
Subject: Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Gifts other than toys


>
>
> Mary writes:
> I was thinking about the walker that was mentioned. I saw my neice have
one
> for her daughter and thought it was so cute and went and bought one for
> Alyssa. She wasn't thrilled with it and never really used it to walk. It
sat
> for quite awhile. Long enough that I thought it was a total wash out.
> Probably about a year later, all the kids were using it and playing with
it.
> Not like it was actually intended for, but loads of fun nonetheless!
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> I think receiving a walker would be a diff. matter for me. They are
dangerous in my books. Fortunately here in Canada they were just banned and
can't be sold in any way now so even if I had another baby I wouldn't have
to deal with it. I would be tempted to have a talk with the giver who might
not have been aware of the issues aurrounding walkers. Then again, I guess I
could stick it in the basement until they showed up at the house and stick
the baby in it at that time for show.
> With guests there'd be lots of supervision. It would likely be
disasembled and tossed first chance I got though.
>
> Dawn (in NS)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
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http://www.unschooling.com
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averyschmidt

> See, now all my kids played with all kinds of stuff that people
talk about
> being dangerous. None of them have ever got hurt with it.

I just gave my 9yo for his birthday an ax and a bow saw. This makes
some of the people close to us nervous, (and one of his friends was
in complete awe that he was "allowed" to have those things) but I'm
not worried at all.
He's very calm and careful around such "dangerous" objects because
they've never been kept away from him. He's also been collecting
pocket knives for years now.

Patti

Dawn Adams

Julie writes:
See, now all my kids played with all kinds of stuff that people talk about
being dangerous. None of them have ever got hurt with it. Hurt with other
stuff, but not the things I was warned about.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Walkers are the one thing I am iffy about. My MIL is almost continually shocked with what my kids do. There's nothing off limits and I don't babyproof. But I don't like walkers because they sort of lift a baby out of her natural limitations and abilities and make things like stairs or stovetops availible to her that otherwise wouldn't be. And yes, I watch the kids, I've watched my two year old play with a plug and outlet and my four year old use steak knives and decided against baby gates and running to catch falling babies. But I also think babies are short and counters are high for a reason and I really don't want to fool around with the equation by adding something that gives a baby reach and mobility it's not supposed to have yet. That said, it's all about my comfort level. I don't think anything bad of moms that use them when they're aware of the dangers and watch the kids.

Dawn (in NS)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kristi Hayes

Besides all that, things like sit-in walkers or even the spinning ones
primarily serve two purposes for babies: contain them (on a 1-story like
we have stairs aren't an issue) or accelerate them (help them learn to
walk). They're also bad for babies' hip and spine development. I'd
rather give them something fun to do on the floor or a low surface.

Kristi




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

averyschmidt

> Besides all that, things like sit-in walkers or even the spinning
ones
> primarily serve two purposes for babies: contain them (on a 1-
story like
> we have stairs aren't an issue) or accelerate them (help them
learn to
> walk).

Hmm. In my case it wasn't for containing him. It actually made him
more mobile and therefore more in need of watchful eyes. And as
for "accelerating" walking, I just don't think that's true. I think
that if anything, too much time in a walker would slow down the
walking process.

> They're also bad for babies' hip and spine development. I'd
> rather give them something fun to do on the floor or a low
surface.

I can't see how in small doses they'd be bad for any kind of
development. My son spent *much* more time either in my arms or
crawling on the floor than he did in any sort of device. The walker
was nice for an occasional change in perspective when he was cranky.

Patti

Mary

From: "averyschmidt" <patti.schmidt2@...>

<<I can't see how in small doses they'd be bad for any kind of
development. My son spent *much* more time either in my arms or
crawling on the floor than he did in any sort of device. The walker
was nice for an occasional change in perspective when he was cranky.>>


Exactly. I don't think anyone here is saying they kept their children that
used walkers in there all the time. And I would say spinal problems and
causing them to walk earlier are a bunch of hooey. In my case.

I had 3 children who were very anxious to get up and about. And even though
those 3 walked at 8 and 9 months, it was a life saver for them (the walker)
at age 5 and 6 months. They wanted to be mobile and up and about and near
me. So if I was in the kitchen they could be right there with me scooting
about. My other daughter who walked later at a year enjoyed the same freedom
to be up and near me and involved around the house.

Mary B

christy_imnotred

My son adored his walker. It was literally the only way I could put
him down without him screaming. He would walk around in the thing in
the kitchen while I fixed meals. He spent maybe a total of 30
minutes a day in it. 30 happy minutes for both of us. He is almost
5 now and walks fine, he started walking at 11 months, not early for
most babies, and he has no spine or hip problems. I will forever be
thankful for the walker we had when he was a baby.

Christy

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