"...I'm not actually sure I want to let my kids do the same..."
But you turned out OK, right? Why rob them of the experiences that shaped you into the wonderful adult human being you are today?
But you turned out OK, right? Why rob them of the experiences that shaped you into the wonderful adult human being you are today?
But as I am in the US now, I can't really even consider the same level of freedom, I would just end up in jail.
I'll just try to give my kids as much freedom as I can. For my 2-year-old for example, when we are outside, I let her do anything as long as it's safe. Jumping into puddles, touching things covered in dirt, let her choose the streets she wants to walk on. At this age it's not really extreme yet :)
BTW: I am a germaphobe. But as long as my own house is clean I'm ok with that. I just get my kid cleaned up as soon as she gets home. It is hard for me to watch her jump in puddles, but she is having so much fun :)
Survivor bias. The kids who get killed playing on railway lines don't grow into adults to make a post on HN about how they used to play on railway lines.