Kids gone feral?
Apr 28th 2009, 1:45 am
#1
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Kids gone feral?
I have a nephew whos 12 and he moved over here with his Mum and Dad (my brother) four years ago. Good kid but bit on the quiet side. Any way he goes to school, is picked up in the shiny family sedan, comes home and watches TV and goes on MSN to friends hes been at school all day with???!!! They do their best to keep him busy but they have to work but as I watch him thumping away on his computer with his i pod on and I couldnt help but think............what a crap life for a youngen.
Dont load ya weapons yet, its just, I couldnt help thinking that he does everything with his parents. They take him to concerts and to the beach (yawn) and to little towns for the weekend but I cant help thinking that what this kid needs is a couple of weeks on the old estate back home. When I was that age I was playing on scaffolding 4 floors up, vandalising bubblegum machines and making go carts with all my mates. Personally, I think that I had it much better but anyway............
By all accounts, the adults that come over are having a dandy ol time, hiking through scrub whilst sloshed, pressing flowers and taking endless photos of rocks and dirt and then boring everyone to tears with the slideshows - good luck to them. I wanted to know if there were any people who have emigrated with kids that are now or were teenagers that went completely off the rails, that went completely demonic and mental at any time after the big move.
Surely there must be people out there who have battled with wayward kids and Im wondering how you dealt with it in an unfamiliar territory and without the extended family support.
Cheers
Dont load ya weapons yet, its just, I couldnt help thinking that he does everything with his parents. They take him to concerts and to the beach (yawn) and to little towns for the weekend but I cant help thinking that what this kid needs is a couple of weeks on the old estate back home. When I was that age I was playing on scaffolding 4 floors up, vandalising bubblegum machines and making go carts with all my mates. Personally, I think that I had it much better but anyway............
By all accounts, the adults that come over are having a dandy ol time, hiking through scrub whilst sloshed, pressing flowers and taking endless photos of rocks and dirt and then boring everyone to tears with the slideshows - good luck to them. I wanted to know if there were any people who have emigrated with kids that are now or were teenagers that went completely off the rails, that went completely demonic and mental at any time after the big move.
Surely there must be people out there who have battled with wayward kids and Im wondering how you dealt with it in an unfamiliar territory and without the extended family support.
Cheers
Apr 28th 2009, 2:13 am
#2
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Apr 28th 2009, 2:21 am
#3
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Re: Kids gone feral?
He could be talking to any number of weirdos on MSN but yeah, if a skinny, pallid and pimply kid is plugged in and tuned out, best let him get on with it eh?
Thanks for the input - I'll remember it always.
Apr 28th 2009, 2:34 am
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Kids gone feral?
Its the parents who are to blame.
Apr 28th 2009, 4:01 am
#5
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Re: Kids gone feral?
I have a nephew whos 12 and he moved over here with his Mum and Dad (my brother) four years ago. Good kid but bit on the quiet side. Any way he goes to school, is picked up in the shiny family sedan, comes home and watches TV and goes on MSN to friends hes been at school all day with???!!! They do their best to keep him busy but they have to work but as I watch him thumping away on his computer with his i pod on and I couldnt help but think............what a crap life for a youngen.
Dont load ya weapons yet, its just, I couldnt help thinking that he does everything with his parents. They take him to concerts and to the beach (yawn) and to little towns for the weekend but I cant help thinking that what this kid needs is a couple of weeks on the old estate back home. When I was that age I was playing on scaffolding 4 floors up, vandalising bubblegum machines and making go carts with all my mates. Personally, I think that I had it much better but anyway............
By all accounts, the adults that come over are having a dandy ol time, hiking through scrub whilst sloshed, pressing flowers and taking endless photos of rocks and dirt and then boring everyone to tears with the slideshows - good luck to them. I wanted to know if there were any people who have emigrated with kids that are now or were teenagers that went completely off the rails, that went completely demonic and mental at any time after the big move.
Surely there must be people out there who have battled with wayward kids and Im wondering how you dealt with it in an unfamiliar territory and without the extended family support.
Cheers
Dont load ya weapons yet, its just, I couldnt help thinking that he does everything with his parents. They take him to concerts and to the beach (yawn) and to little towns for the weekend but I cant help thinking that what this kid needs is a couple of weeks on the old estate back home. When I was that age I was playing on scaffolding 4 floors up, vandalising bubblegum machines and making go carts with all my mates. Personally, I think that I had it much better but anyway............
By all accounts, the adults that come over are having a dandy ol time, hiking through scrub whilst sloshed, pressing flowers and taking endless photos of rocks and dirt and then boring everyone to tears with the slideshows - good luck to them. I wanted to know if there were any people who have emigrated with kids that are now or were teenagers that went completely off the rails, that went completely demonic and mental at any time after the big move.
Surely there must be people out there who have battled with wayward kids and Im wondering how you dealt with it in an unfamiliar territory and without the extended family support.
Cheers
On a serious note, this is all too often what happens in this country as it is often too hot to play outside, there is nothing interesting on the TV or no other kids are playing outside either. Living in big houses on manicured estates can actually be quite isolating for children as their friends can often be quite a distance from each other making it difficult to meet up after school.
Unfortunately the only way to combat it is to shephard them around to after school activites or their friends which can be difficult if both parents work.
I literally have to force my kids outside some days to stop them monging in front of the computer so I can understand your frustration.
Apr 28th 2009, 4:11 am
#6
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Re: Kids gone feral?
Surely by coming to Oz they are giving their kid "a better life"
On a serious note, this is all too often what happens in this country as it is often too hot to play outside, there is nothing interesting on the TV or no other kids are playing outside either. Living in big houses on manicured estates can actually be quite isolating for children as their friends can often be quite a distance from each other making it difficult to meet up after school.
Unfortunately the only way to combat it is to shephard them around to after school activites or their friends which can be difficult if both parents work.
I literally have to force my kids outside some days to stop them monging in front of the computer so I can understand your frustration.
On a serious note, this is all too often what happens in this country as it is often too hot to play outside, there is nothing interesting on the TV or no other kids are playing outside either. Living in big houses on manicured estates can actually be quite isolating for children as their friends can often be quite a distance from each other making it difficult to meet up after school.
Unfortunately the only way to combat it is to shephard them around to after school activites or their friends which can be difficult if both parents work.
I literally have to force my kids outside some days to stop them monging in front of the computer so I can understand your frustration.
Apr 28th 2009, 5:35 am
#7
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Re: Kids gone feral?
Don't understand the, "It's often too hot to play outside.", statement. This could be said about the north of the country but it doesn't apply to the rest. My sons came in from school, threw off the uniform, put on the jeans or whaever, grabbed something to eat and disappeared, only to reappear at dinnertime.Weekends, after soccer etc, and holidays they were out and came home when they were hungry. Before anyone says but that was years ago, my grandchildren do exactly the same thing. If a child stays inside all the time it's only because parents don't tell them to get out and play with their mates.
Apr 28th 2009, 6:45 am
#8
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Re: Kids gone feral?
Yes, why do you ask. 
It must mean something different to you Northerners.
You've obviously not spent too much time in Perth at the height of summer. You certainly wouldn't be putting jeans on to go out to play!!
Most people are stay indoors behind closed curtains with the air con on to avoid getting their skin burnt off.
I do tell my children to go out, but I won't force them if it is over 35 degrees which it can be for weeks on end here in Perth. Before daylight saving finished it was still up in the mid 30's at 4 and 5 oclock. Not the best conditions for kids to be running around in IMO.
It must mean something different to you Northerners.
Don't understand the, "It's often too hot to play outside.", statement. This could be said about the north of the country but it doesn't apply to the rest. My sons came in from school, threw off the uniform, put on the jeans or whaever, grabbed something to eat and disappeared, only to reappear at dinnertime.Weekends, after soccer etc, and holidays they were out and came home when they were hungry. Before anyone says but that was years ago, my grandchildren do exactly the same thing. If a child stays inside all the time it's only because parents don't tell them to get out and play with their mates.
Most people are stay indoors behind closed curtains with the air con on to avoid getting their skin burnt off.
I do tell my children to go out, but I won't force them if it is over 35 degrees which it can be for weeks on end here in Perth. Before daylight saving finished it was still up in the mid 30's at 4 and 5 oclock. Not the best conditions for kids to be running around in IMO.
Apr 28th 2009, 7:04 am
#9
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Re: Kids gone feral?
Times have changed ... along with the UK climate. In the UK its now too cold and wet to play outdoors 
... and thats nearly all year round.
Just had a great long weekend in Perth. Weather was perfect for playing outdoors. The parks were full of people having BBQs, playing football, flying kites etc etc
... and thats nearly all year round.Just had a great long weekend in Perth. Weather was perfect for playing outdoors. The parks were full of people having BBQs, playing football, flying kites etc etc
Apr 28th 2009, 7:10 am
#10
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Re: Kids gone feral?
I live in South Coast NSW and there are very few days of the year when it's 'too hot' to play outside. One of the things that attracted us to this town (and we first visited it in January) was the number of kids outside playing, riding bikes, on skateboards, walking towards the beach with boogie/surf boards under their arms. We're still in early Autumn here and there's a definite tang in the air now as winter approaches - plenty of kids in jeans and hoodies. If the weather's so shit and oppresive in Perth - why don't you do one?
Apr 28th 2009, 7:11 am
#11
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Re: Kids gone feral?
when I lived in the UK there were very few days when it was too cold or wet to play outside yet we hear that on here many times.
Apr 28th 2009, 7:17 am
#12
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Re: Kids gone feral?
I live in South Coast NSW and there are very few days of the year when it's 'too hot' to play outside. One of the things that attracted us to this town (and we first visited it in January) was the number of kids outside playing, riding bikes, on skateboards, walking towards the beach with boogie/surf boards under their arms. We're still in early Autumn here and there's a definite tang in the air now as winter approaches - plenty of kids in jeans and hoodies. If the weather's so shit and oppresive in Perth - why don't you do one?
Why don't I do one what??I actually didn't mind the weather here in Perth the first few years, but I have come to dislike it.
Yes, this weekend has been perfect, high 20's and clear days with cool nights. I wish it was like this all the time.
Apr 28th 2009, 7:57 am
#13
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Re: Kids gone feral?
Unfortunately in many areas of the UK it's just not safe to let your kids play out regardless of the weather
Both my daughters are still in the UK and neither of them will let their kids play out in the street and taking them to the local park is no longer an option because the council has neglected it so much that the kids playground had glass taped to the slide and syringes buried in the sandpit.
Add that to the drug dealers posing as ice cream men at the park gates and you have no competition to the outside lifestyle the majority of kids enjoy over here.
Loz x
Both my daughters are still in the UK and neither of them will let their kids play out in the street and taking them to the local park is no longer an option because the council has neglected it so much that the kids playground had glass taped to the slide and syringes buried in the sandpit.
Add that to the drug dealers posing as ice cream men at the park gates and you have no competition to the outside lifestyle the majority of kids enjoy over here.
Loz x
Apr 28th 2009, 7:58 am
#14
Bitter and twisted
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Re: Kids gone feral?
Unfortunately in many areas of the UK it's just not safe to let your kids play out regardless of the weather
Both my daughters are still in the UK and neither of them will let their kids play out in the street and taking them to the local park is no longer an option because the council has neglected it so much that the kids playground had glass taped to the slide and syringes buried in the sandpit.
Add that to the drug dealers posing as ice cream men at the park gates and you have no competition to the outside lifestyle the majority of kids enjoy over here.
Loz x
Both my daughters are still in the UK and neither of them will let their kids play out in the street and taking them to the local park is no longer an option because the council has neglected it so much that the kids playground had glass taped to the slide and syringes buried in the sandpit.
Add that to the drug dealers posing as ice cream men at the park gates and you have no competition to the outside lifestyle the majority of kids enjoy over here.
Loz x
Apr 28th 2009, 8:08 am
#15
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Re: Kids gone feral?
I don't know where you live Grayling so I can't comment but the kids where we are are happy and safe. Our local parks and green spaces are clean, tidy and well kept and well used and looked after by the people that use them.
Our sports areas are the same (and free!!!!!!!!!!!!) and because they are well used the 'undesirables' have not, as yet, moved in on the kids. Maybe that will come (is it really inevitable?) but up to now the community feel and pride in the place is keeping the area safe enough for any mum to let the kids just enjoy being kids.
Loz x
Our sports areas are the same (and free!!!!!!!!!!!!) and because they are well used the 'undesirables' have not, as yet, moved in on the kids. Maybe that will come (is it really inevitable?) but up to now the community feel and pride in the place is keeping the area safe enough for any mum to let the kids just enjoy being kids.
Loz x