Isn't it shocking many kids’ toys and playgrounds were dangerously unsafe and parents were so trusting, allowing us to play?

[Anonymous]

In the 1950's they had to ban the Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab because it contained a type of uranium. That ended up being toxic for children.

Then it 2007 it was Aqua Dots, which were small beads coated with a chemical. It became toxic when allowed.

Hot metal slides were dangerous playgrounds for kids. It would heat up during the summer and cause burns.

Merry-Go-Rounds: There is no speed limit and it can lead to terrible falls and motion sickness.

My own experience: When I was 9 (it was 1996 back then) , I used to climb a large, metallic spherical money bar and hang myself upsidedown like a bat. There was no safety mat nor grass below, it was just hard ground with dirt. If I had fallen, I could've fractured my skull, or suffered broken bones. Yet, neither of my parents were concerned nor thought about that danger. They would even take their eyes off me for several moment or go to get a drink, then come back after a couple minutes. Now they realized how dangerous that monkey bar was. I wouldn't allow my son to climb onto that if there was no safety material to cushion a fall.

My parents (just like those other parents) were trusting and allow it, not realizing the dangers. Isn't that shocking?

[slatyb]

We used to do a lot of unnecessarily dangerous things, and people died or were seriously injured. However, we do need to allow our children to take some risks -- we can't make the entire world safe for them. Eventually they will be out on their own and they need to feel confident. It's crazy that in the US parents are afraid to allow their children to walk to school for fear of alien abduction.

[Asker]

That monkey bar climbing was risky. I couldn't afford to lose my grip and make a single mistake from a fall. A simple fall would've been an immediate trip to the ER. So my parents did risked it at the cost of possible brain injury or broken bones if I would've fallen. I don't think that's the type of risk I would want to take for my son.
But nowadays there are safer landing mats so I would let him climb to it as long as he can safely land if he falls. Several of those toys were also banned permanently as soon as an incident happened and the parents would file a lawsuit with the company. It only takes one unlucky child to change things.

[DryGermanGuy]

Uhm, no it's not. Children have to learn to make decisions for themselves, the earlier, the better. American-style helicopter parenting only creates idiots, who can't live adult lives.

[Asker]

I understand this but an accidental fall from that monkey bar would've been a direct trip to the ER. My parents sure took the risk of a possible brain injury or broken bones. Nowadays I see safer landing mats, some of those toys were banned after several incidents happened and the playgrounds have improved. It actually took accidents and parents then would file a lawsuit. Otherwise things would've stayed the same if there wouldn't be incidents with children.

[DryGermanGuy]

I am still glad our playgrounds are designed by creative people instead of dickless lawyers.

[Agape93]

Wait until you hearing about the original orbeez being chemically identical to GHB

[purplepoppy]

The problem is lots of kids did fall. They didn't learn from it, they died.

[Asker]

This precisely. Luckily I had a good balance and grip, never fell off that monkey bar. I coudn't afford to make that mistake. It would've been a immediate trip to the ER.

[MrChinaski]

Back when the world was full of lightness and good and lead paint tasted yummy.

Growing up is about learning to engage with risks. Taking this away from kids has contributed to an epidemic of anxiety and depression.

[exitseven]

I grew up before seatbelts were required. My father took the back seat out of his car and laid down a blankeet and my brother and me would play with our toy trucks.

[fishbone77]

And yet most of us turned out fine. Meanwhile kids today have teh world nerfed for them and they’re walking around hopped up on antidepressants and ritalin.

[Asker]

Most but I bet some kids did fall or something did end up happening to them with one of those toys. It's only when an incident does happens to an unlucky kid that either the toy gets banned or they build a safer playground.

[fishbone77]

yup. but again, we were mostly ok, now kids are all mentally ill.

[strateguy632]

but you did not fall from hanging.

[Asker]

No I didn't but some other unlucky kid likely did fall.

[Abbycado]

Okay. Great psa

[Asker]

It's actually true.

[Dargil]

Nope