Yeah, yeah, yeah .... it's a really dangerous environment out there these days Junk /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ........ I don't think so ......
The fumdental fact is that inhibiting anyone's ability to control their environment or any part of it doesn't make the individual more capable ...... it in fact makes them
LESS capable.
Why do you think the youth of today are less responsible and have less common sense ? It's largely because they are being over "protected", are allowed to do not much else than sit around and watch the boob tube or play video games and as a result of lack of experience they end up lacking "common sense"
My neighbor's grandson who lives with him is 11. He (the grandson) runs a 743 Bobcat skidsteer, brushogs with our old IH 444 (now the neighbor's) and 6' cutter, runs a full-size JD TLB, and JD ZTR with a 6' deck. I've let him run the backhoe on my
B2910.
The kid is:
1. Hardworking - he's more interesting in being outside and doing something useful than being indoors, watching TV, and playing video games - and can't figure out the other kids who do. He comes down to our place constantly and is always looking for something (work) to do. I was out tearing up more of the driveway a couple of days ago and he's there throwing chunks of asphalt in the bucket of the loader - big pieces (for him) - probably 25 to 35 pounders (the kid probably doesn't weigh but 70 or 80 himself) He mows a couple of neighbors' yards and does other odd jobs. He is all the time trying to clean and straighten up my shed (which is usually a perpetual mess) - only problem I have with it is that it's sometimes hard to find things after he's finished - but he does a dang good job of it otherwise /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
2. Interested and listens. I always try to tell him about the safety aspects of whatever we might be doing, along with basic knowledge and understanding that he might someday have a use for. People become disinterested and unwilling to accept instruction when you
STOP them enough from being active and particpating in some area of life which they have an interest and a purpose in.
3. Responsible. If given a task he'll do it - or come back and report that there is a problem or he needs some help. And he is aware of what a properly done/professional job is and attempts to do each task to the best of hsi ability. He cleans up after himself, puts tools away when the job is done and will do it without being told to. He just knows.
4. Motivated. This kid plans to have his own "tractor" business by the time he is 16. His big dilemma right now is dealing with the logistical issues posed by being a minor and owning a business - which he is somewhat, if not completely, aware of. I have no doubt that he will do it - and will be successful at it.
The fact is, most kids at somewhere around the age of 12 or so are ready to start Life and get on with it ... anything one can do to contribute to that is a good thing - but minimally one needs to at least not get in the way too much and inhibit their own self-determined interest and activity.
Of course I don't disagree that it would irresponsible to let some kids do certain things - but the point I'm making is that if one is always coaching towards a greater ability, and a greater competence, that is the only way to have more able individuals, and thence a more able society, in the long run.
FWIW, I started working in parents business during summer vacation when I was 11, dusting shelves - minimum of 4 to 6 hours per day, 30 to 40 hours per week. After that summer I was expected to be working at least some part of every summer. If it wasn't in the business then it was working in Dad's one acre garden. When I got my license at 16, I started working (full-time, 40 hours per week) in the business after school and on weekends.
For me it took quite awhile - after a number of wrong turns in the road of Life ..... probably until I was 25 or 30 - to really appreciate that I had learned the value of work. In my book that's a good thing to have learned and there pretty much isn't a day that goes by that I don't think fondly of my parents for 1. demanding that I
Do Something, and 2. being willing to allow me to fail or succeed.
