I “Bubble Wrap" my kid and what ?
Updated: Apr 27, 2023
I “Bubble Wrap" my kid and what ?
Take your helmet! Don't forget your protection for your knees, your elbows and your life preserver ! And… Your cycling gloves? And… your non-slip shoes? and your UV sunglasses… and your reflective cap … and your SPF 150 sunscreen ?!?
What ?! I am only going for two days visiting a friend who has a chalet in the mountains. With all this protective equipment, I will not have any room in my luggage for my swimsuit!
It is important to protect yourself against major injuries and accidents, but there is a limit, no?! Sometimes, all these accessories that parents force their child to wear discourage them from doing it. If they have to cover every inch of their skin that could be injured, they’d prefer to do nothing!
One research study showed that overprotection or over-competitive parents (those who want their child to be the best at all cost) discourage them from doing any kind of sports activity. Practicing a very simple physical activity, just for fun, becomes so complicated that children no longer want to do anything and this overprotectiveness can create low self-esteem and anxiety and thereby impact their social skills.
Sometimes our fear as a parent pervades to such an extent that by the time we are ready for a little walk with our child and their scooter, the process of preparation has taken longer than the ride will itself - sometimes it seems that it’s just not worth the effort!
But… OTHERWISE … (yes, I found a positive aspect of overprotection!) Firstly because we are LoVed or we really LoVe them! Then, another research shows that when a parent protects their child from an urban environment where the crime rate is high (e.g. gun crime, violence, drug gangs…) the functioning of the family is better.
What is your opinion?
I guess, as a mum, I have to let them go a little bit. Give up a bit of control. Try to find the "golden balance" if possible.
Remove a layer of bubble wrap on my child and keep it for myself.
references:
Ungar M. Overprotective Parenting: Helping Parents Provide Children the Right Amount of Risk and Responsibility. The American Journal of Family Therapy. Published online April 30, 2009:258-271. doi:10.1080/01926180802534247
Spokas M, Heimberg RG. Overprotective Parenting, Social Anxiety, and External Locus of Control: Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Relationships. Cogn Ther Res. Published online December 30, 2008:543-551. doi:10.1007/s10608-008-9227-5
ozil-goalai.com had me laughing at the SPF 150 sunscreen line, mostly because I've been that parent cramming knee pads into a weekend bag. You're right that at some point the gear list gets so long the kid just opts out entirely. Mine told me he'd rather stay home than wear the elbow pads, and honestly I couldn't argue with him.
AI Font Generator, the joke about having no room left in the suitcase for the swimsuit really landed for me. It's a useful reminder that sensible safety matters more than piling on every single accessory.
AI BG Remover makes a great point about how all that protective gear can feel overwhelming. The list in the article, from the helmet to the reflective cap, really highlights how it can take the fun out of a simple trip. It’s a good reminder that there’s a balance between safety and letting kids actually be kids.
A very relatable discussion about parenting and the challenge of keeping kids safe without limiting their experiences. Children learn through exploration, so giving them appropriate freedom is important. I also appreciate how the article encourages parents to think about safety in a practical way. For measuring angles during activities or projects, an inclinometer online can be a convenient tool to have available.
The point about preparation taking longer than the actual walk with the scooter really resonates. It's a good reminder that all the gear can sometimes discourage children from just having fun. Finding that balance is tricky, and tools like grid maker can help with planning simpler outings.