What mainstream things do you NOT allow your children to do?

dawn_rose

Hiya my parenting rules are no tvs in bedroom or pcs (they have a playroom for their wii and a tv in there but not connected yet). They eat everything i dish up which is balanced and will eat all fruit and veg so can have sweets as a treat. Car seats at all times. Thinking on the smoking thing the only thing that would bother me is with my eldest as she is asthmatic same with dogs, my 2nd dd is petrified of dogs but parents of her friends are understanding and the dog is put in another room. As for kids with special needs (i am shocked by this one) my kids play with anyone i have one child with club feet and another who has siezures i would hate it if anyone looked down on my kids as not to be played with for these reasons. My kids play with however they fancy really but they are all nice lil kids. They are well mannered and polite really. I have three girls and do not dress any of them in inapropriate clothing.

MissAT

I don't think my house rules are necessarily against the mainstream, but they seem to be thing my friends and children's friends don't have:

1. No TV in the bedroom or during lunch/dinner
2. Max 1 hour TV/computer time per day
3. No swearing
4. No inappropriate clothes
5. Pocket money only if deserved

springer211

onlyroz wrote: »

I was once at a family gathering (it was at my sister-in-law's parents' house) when my kids asked for a drink. Everyone else was guzzling Pepsi and so I poured my kids out a glass each. Then another boy asked for a drink as well - I was just about to pour him out a Pepsi when his horrified mother screamed "he's not allowed to drink that" at me and grabbed the bottle away (despite the fact that she'd been drinking it herself). The poor boy looked mortified, and I was left wondering if the lad ever got any treats at all.

Pepsi, McD's ect are not 'treat', they are junk food that is bad for them. If we give them to children as treats you make them sound like they are good things, and will make them think they are desirable and make them want more.
I see a treat as something maybe too expensive to give all the time, or good quality sweets are fine eaten in moderation (like a home made cake, or even a nice bought one). Stuff full of chemicals, and low quality rubbish is definitely not a 'treat' in my opinion.
I agree however that there's no need to humiliate a child because of our belief, and exceptions to strict rules are not the end of the world

minimoneysaver

I like to think that my daughter and I have a discussion to decide what is or isn't appropriate. If she really wants something or wants to do something, there must be a reason why. Simply because Joe next door has it or does it isn't a good reason. My daughter is 7 and has been away on week long outdoor excursions to go canoeing, climbing etc and on the other hand, she loves to have her nails painted and play moshi monsters on the computer. Bad mother? No, I think that my daughter has a vary varied life, full of great experiences.

onlyroz

springer211 wrote: »

Pepsi, McD's ect are not 'treat', they are junk food that is bad for them. If we give them to children as treats you make them sound like they are good things, and will make them think they are desirable and make them want more.
I see a treat as something maybe too expensive to give all the time, or good quality sweets are fine eaten in moderation (like a home made cake, or even a nice bought one). Stuff full of chemicals, and low quality rubbish is definitely not a 'treat' in my opinion.
I agree however that there's no need to humiliate a child because of our belief, and exceptions to strict rules are not the end of the world

Yes, I'm sure that too many fizzy drinks are a bad thing - but I just thought that this woman was overeacting. One glass of fizzy at a party is unlikely to cause any permanent damage unless the child has a specific allergy. The stuff was freely available and everybody else was drinking it and so I just assumed that it would be OK for the boy to have a glass. I've learned my lesson to not dare give anybody else's child anything without the parent's express permission.

jacqhale

Why not class pepsi, mcd's etc as treats?? Most things are only very bad for you if taken without moderation and with no balance in the rest of your life surely?
I don't want to battle everything out with my kids, and I try and instill in them some sense and understanding. That way when they finally grow older and get their freedom they won't make themselves sick on all the mcd's, chocolate and fizzy drinks they weren't allowed at home. I like a glass of coke and a mcd's every so often as well :eek:
No I don't agree they should get or do things just because 'everyone else does' but shouldn't they also get some things just because they want them? Small give on the odd glass of pepsi and I don't have to feel mean about not budging on the big things.

dizziblonde

Tv-wise - I don't like things like Peppa Pig (disturbing nose, plus the damned character's on EVERYTHING and I don't want to start heading down the everything's Peppa-ised road) and I try to avoid the kids' TV channels that have adverts on - rarely even put Cbeebies on if I'm honest.

You don't draw on or rip books - I was brought up to value them and my mother would go ballistic if you intentionally (I know accidents happen) ripped one and I've kind of picked up on it and carried it on.

Likewise the pulling branches off trees thing - drives me potty seeing kids being allowed to do that.

Otherwise - it's things like no computers in the bedroom etc and pestering - the answer doesn't miraculously change if you ask me for the 957th time.

onlyroz

jacqhale wrote: »

Why not class pepsi, mcd's etc as treats?? Most things are only very bad for you if taken without moderation and with no balance in the rest of your life surely?.

Yup. As a kid I wasn't allowed any sweets because my brother had a sugar allergy and it "wouldn't be fair" if I was allowed them and he wasn't. As a result, as soon as I was old enough to go to the shops on my own I would blow my entire pocket money on sweets and gorge myself on them. Apart from making me feel a little ill it also means that my teeth aren't as good as they should be.

In general banning something just makes it more desirable.

peachyprice

My cousin tried the no fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate sweets, not ever, with her son. As soon as he got to secondary school with cash for dinner money he went bananas and blew the lot in the sweet shop every day.

Funnily enough, she's not done the same with her daughter.

Me, I must be a really bad mummy, I haven't banned anything that I can think of. And guess what, my children have turned out to be lovley, well rounded, polite, smart individuals with no uncontrollable yearnings from being denied things for years.

Although I do agree with dizziblonde, books are precious and are to be cared for, read, passed on to the next generation, so no tearing or drawing in them, please.

xbrenx

ringo_24601 wrote: »

My wife has issued a 'no gun-like toys' ruling - i think that's our only one

This was a strict rule of mine too, no guns, in the preschool years and beyond I even encouraged dolls and what we accept as girl toys.

BUT

They're grown up now, 20 & 17. The eldest plays AirSoft most weekends - paintballing with pellet guns. And the youngest is just going through selection process for the RAF.

Oh well.