Beoz

When I did a few years growing up in Australia this was far from the case. All the kids in the street played cricket in the street or kicked a football around or swam in others pools. There was some sporting fields at the end of the street where kids would often congregate, ride bikes, skateboards etc, climb the trees, build houses with what tree limbs we could find. I remember one particular rainy day where we turned a grassy hill into a massive slide, covering ourselves in grass and mud to our mothers horror.

Unless things have changed over the decades, or you live in a rather odd area, I'm not sure how the above can occur.

Kim67

Brisbane weather is very mild and it's not that hot in summer. Spiders and snakes are not a big issue. Loads of activities focus on the outdoors here. Plenty of parks along the river with walking and bike paths. Free Bbq's, swimming pools, council bikes for hire, council run school holiday programs. Riverlife in the Brisbane city have paid activities like kayaking and abseiling. Google New Farm Park, the Morton Bay Fig trees there have a playground designed around them specifally tailored for kids to climb them. They're always full of kids practicing their climbing skills. There's a concert venue (Riverstage) in the heart of the city with free ballets, concerts every year - everyone brings their wine and picnic hamper.

quoll

Things have changed over the decades, my boys were out and about 30 years ago but parents have become much more aware of dangers, there're more "play dates" than spontaneity, technology is far more advanced so there is more for kids to stay indoors for. In suburbia there are fewer places to congregate now too, with public land being used for building where there used to be vacant lots. I'd say things have changed a lot actually. That said, my granddaughter did score her first black eye the other day when she and her skateboard parted ways over a bump! (Takes after her dad!) But, they were on a play date at the time, not just out in the street/garden.

Dorothy

Not very often you and I agree, but this is one time we do. 11 years and I can count the times on 1 finger that I've seen a snake. And that was flat across the road about 50 km from where I live, near a nature reserve. As for spiders, they're no different to spiders anywhere. Use some common sense and you won't get bitten. It's not as if they lie in wait for some unsuspecting person so they can bite them.

Beoz

Our family had an Atari growing up. There were strict rules on its use plus the use of TV time.

Do those rules no longer apply?

bourbon-biscuit

I think I get where you're coming from, OP. My husband grew up with woodlands adjacent to his garden and spent his childhood free roaming in them. When we had kids he passed that enthusiasm on. There's a huge difference between going for a walk/ ramble and the way we used to spend time in the countryside in the UK with the kids. When we brought them here when they were still quite young I remember my husband being quite upset that our daughter was bitten by something the first time she climbed a tree and that we had to teach them they couldn't just scramble off into the undergrowth to the same extent. The heat, the UV, and the various biters and stingers don't have to prevent you from doing stuff outdoors but they do change your relationship with the outdoors. Everything needs more forethought and planning and we tend to have a more urbanised relationship with the outdoors than we did in the UK. E.g. my daughter and her dad are out doing a Park Run this morning, daughter has surfing lessons, we use our local outdoor pools heaps, we have loads of stunning walks all around us but we tend to stick to paths and it's different to the wild places that were 'ours' in the UK. I am certain that our kids have had a more active childhood and teens than they would have had in the UK because facilities are just so much better but we had to adjust our relationship with the outdoors a bit. It's hard to explain but I'm hoping you might get what I mean. It's all part of adapting.

Kim67

No because even school work and homework requires the use of a laptop, ipad or mobile phone app. So little buggers are supposedly doing homework but really watching Dance Mums or listening to really crap rap music (depending on the child).

Beoz

Can't you just lock it down so the only thing they can use is the specified app?

Kim67

I'm sure you can but kids are more tech savvy than most sdults these days. They've even found a way around the blocked Netflix at school.

Beoz

It aint that hard to lock it down. Start a new thread. Plenty will show you how.

quoll

That presupposes the parents can be bothered to do so. Many are just happy that the kids are quiet and not bothering them

Beoz

Bit a discipline never hurt us back in the day.

Kim67

Yeah i'm a terrible parent. But makes all the perfect ones feel better about themselves.

Pollyana

Strange how your kids have turned out so lovely with such a dreadful mum

ozzieeagle

Up side of kids using the net when they are supposed to be doing homework is they become very good multitaskers. My 3rd Daughter, the one doing the electrical engineering degree is able to do both and has used that skill to her advantage in a major way in her working life.