Thanks guys. I totally agree, Boatman. I am constantly amazed/befuddled/speechless at the level of unnecessary "safety" people seem to think vital these days. I've got one friend who is just beside herself that I'm teaching my kid to use a knife, make fire and, heaven forbid, letting him go on a no parents allow camp out with his 14 year old cousin and 23 YEAR OLD sister. LOL! (The fact that she's a Scout leader REALLY scares me. Honestly.)
Putting our kids in bubbles is doing them a disservice, IMO. I can't define where the line is. You have to know your own kids, and understand that they're way more capable than most people give them credit for. Childhood curiosity being what it is, telling not to do something they're interested in isn't going to work. At least not with my kid. Better to teach them to do it safely and responsibly. Heck, my hubby burned down a field of hay playing with fire when he was a kid. His mom was (and still is) a "OMG! He's too young for that!" type. Coincidence? hmm......
We were at the river yesterday, and bacpacboy was climbing up and down this HUGE sandy river bank, having a blast. Another family arrived with three kids - one slightly younger, one about the same age, and one a little older. Those kids were so scared for him, and kept yelling at him to get down. He was fine but they were so nervous. He told them "I'm not coming down but why don't you come up?" No way hosay. It was fascinating to watch. (So much so that I shot of video of it.) Finally one of the kids said "I'm going to tell your mom!" and he said "Go ahead, she just took a picture of me." LOL!
He was up pretty high but the slope was easily climable, soft and, let's face it, fun. I watched him and wasn't worried at all, except for asking him to please not take off up and over the ridge and into the thick forest, where we wouldn't be able to hear each other, unless he took his lanyard with whistle, which he had no interest in. (Amoung other things, I had bacpacbaby with me and wouldn't be able to go get him when it was time to head home.) The other kids didn't stop TELLING him to get down, until he finally did - when he was darned good and ready. LOL!
P.S. I should point out that although bacpacboy loves climbing, he is scared of heights, and that was a good gauge of just how dangerous that slope was, IMO.