Safety is not a perception, it is a reality, but assessment of that reality is subjective as we are all human”
Syag, please believe me when I say I don’t disagree at all with most of what you posted. But just as you believe that some parents misperceive or misassess (is there such a word?)the safety of a situation, likewise so might you do so, and misjudge the safety of that same activity. I am not talkiong about climbing on monkey bars (which should still be done under supervision, but absolutely let ’em climb), or boys (and girls do, too) roughhousing at times, again under supervision, so nobody ends up with a broken nose, BE”H. Nevertheless, though we want out kids to be active and have fun, no one wants to be that parent whose child was perfectly ok doing dangerous things UNTIL IT WASN’T OK. You don’t want to learn by certain experiences.
My grandson who is kinehora about to be 19 months old, loves to climb up on things since he could walk, and does, but he also recemt;y discovered the ability and joy of lifting up toilet seat lids. Should he be allowed to a) go into the bathroom unsupervised and b)climb up on the toilet, whether the lid is down or not? But maybe we are squelching his sense of discovery and adventure!! I am perfectly willing to squelch that particular adventure.
There are certain things that are inherently dangerous to and for kids, and putting a squirmy child in a top part of a cart could possibly turn out to be one of those things, as the child turns over and falls out when the mom’s back and attentions are turned to something other than the baby. It was perfectly OK – until it wasn’t. I don’t believe that is being overly cautious, however if you do think so, I totally respect your right to feel that way, especially if you are extra careful with your child.
I can tell you from my own experience, that I have never judged my neighbors unfairly, having (either my husband or myself personally)saved at least four of their children from running into oncoming traffic, getting lost blocks away from their home, and/or falling down their outside staircase as they ride their tricycles on Shabbos unsupervised. And I am speaking of toddlers, some as young as 18 months. I guess that has predisposed me “to judge unfairly.”
But I see what I see, and it scares me as a mother and loving grandmother, that there are people who are truly nice people, but are clueless as to how dangerous some of the things they let their do, actually are. And I have not even discussed the HALF of it.