What Have You Lost? No.5

Do you ever feel like somehow, despite advancements, the world is somehow less connected than you experienced growing up? Recently, I started a discussion on things we’ve lost along the way and invited readers to tell me how our social fabric has changed in their lifetimes. I’d love it if you’d tell me what you miss.

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What Have You Lost? The Peace of Mind to Let Children Roam the Neighborhood Freely.

Do you remember flying around town on your shiny red ten speed, waving to neighbors with wind in your hair? Quite a few readers reported they mourned the loss of “safe” ride-able communities for their children.

Some reported their once small town had exploded over the last generation, adding too much traffic or crime to the streets for parents to feel comfortable sending their children to explore alone. While others noted that today’s society might just present a “seeming lost of safety.” Perhaps, they noted, it’s just as safe today as it was back then, but we are more aware of crime and undesirable statistics in this technological age, which creates an elevated sense of fear.

While we can’t reverse the growth patterns of our communities, we can still make conscious decisions to encourage our children to interact safely with neighbors and enjoy their surroundings. Here are a few ideas for doing just that.

• Go on a bike ride with your kids. In addition to spending time with them, it will also give you the chance to teach them about safe practices both when riding and when interacting with strangers.
• Find the safest route for your young rider. Whether pedaling between school and home or traveling between two other locations, Safe Routes helps you determine the safest route for your child to travel from Point A to Point B.
  
• Pack up the bikes and head to a local park. Many parks have wide open spaces where a parent could sit and read while watching kids make use of a bike path. Younger kids might get just as much enjoyment out of an unused school parking lot or track.
• Find a designated bike trail that runs through the community. Use a site like TrailLink to find a new riding path for your kids to explore.
• Take your bikes when you visit a relative who lives in a smaller community. Ditto for if you’re vacationing in a low-traffic area.
• Enroll child riders in an online bicycle safety course. Or check out safety tips for children who walk in the community here.
• If the biking options are limited, find some alternative recreation ideas that allow children to get physical exercise and interact with community members. Check out your local YMCA or city rec department for details.

Don’t forget to add your ideas here!

Read previous posts about the local ice cream store, cell phone addictions, front porch conversations or picking people up at the airport.