Comments on: Does It Really Take A Village To Raise A Child? http://justcallmedad.com/2009/08/does-it-really-take-a-village-to-raise-a-child/ Fatherhood in the 21st Century Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:42:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Teacher Tom http://justcallmedad.com/2009/08/does-it-really-take-a-village-to-raise-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-39720 Teacher Tom Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:26:29 +0000 http://justcallmedad.com/?p=284#comment-39720 Yes, I definitely would have talked to the boys, but I would not have offered to take them home or do anything that would put me in a position to be alone with them. That's a big risk, especially for men. I wouldn't even have touched them unless it was necessary to keep them safe. (Sad, but true commentary about our world.) I would ask them where their parent was, if they knew their phone number or address, and/or if they knew how to walk home. If they knew how to walk home, I would have escorted them there. If they were either too young to appropriately respond or were clueless, I would have called 911 and waited right there with them. I've often spotted kids in places or doing things that didn't seem appropriate. Usually, I just quietly put myself physically in a position to keep them safe (e.g., between them and the road) if they need it until a parent shows up. As a preschool teacher, I sometimes start talking to other people's kids out of habit. If the parent is around, I always make friendly eye contact with the grown-up before speaking to the kid. I'll correct a kid if he's hurting other children (or almost hurting them), but I try to keep it light. It does take a village. Yes, I definitely would have talked to the boys, but I would not have offered to take them home or do anything that would put me in a position to be alone with them. That’s a big risk, especially for men. I wouldn’t even have touched them unless it was necessary to keep them safe. (Sad, but true commentary about our world.)

I would ask them where their parent was, if they knew their phone number or address, and/or if they knew how to walk home. If they knew how to walk home, I would have escorted them there.

If they were either too young to appropriately respond or were clueless, I would have called 911 and waited right there with them.

I’ve often spotted kids in places or doing things that didn’t seem appropriate. Usually, I just quietly put myself physically in a position to keep them safe (e.g., between them and the road) if they need it until a parent shows up.

As a preschool teacher, I sometimes start talking to other people’s kids out of habit. If the parent is around, I always make friendly eye contact with the grown-up before speaking to the kid. I’ll correct a kid if he’s hurting other children (or almost hurting them), but I try to keep it light.

It does take a village.

]]> By: WeaselMomma http://justcallmedad.com/2009/08/does-it-really-take-a-village-to-raise-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-39718 WeaselMomma Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:25:34 +0000 http://justcallmedad.com/?p=284#comment-39718 As a parent I would be grateful to anyone who protected my children from danger. I hope and expect that my neighbors while correct my children if they see them doing something wrong. Just the same way I will correct theirs. As a parent I would be grateful to anyone who protected my children from danger. I hope and expect that my neighbors while correct my children if they see them doing something wrong. Just the same way I will correct theirs.

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