Children Grow

Something about the new school year makes parents think their children are a little older and wiser than last year. Kids can't grow if they aren't allowed to increase their access to the outside world, but whoa! is that scary for parents. Modern parents may be harming their kids by being too wary of letting them out in the world. This shows up in many ways like playgrounds that are so safe they bore kids into abandoning them; empty streets that used to be filled with playing kids who now stay inside their safe homes; and middle school kids who aren't allowed to walk the mile home from school. According to a recent EPA report in 1969, 48 percent of kids walked or biked home from school; in 2001, not even 15 percent made it on their own two legs. Not only does this make kids fatter, it take away an important social time where kids can get to know their neighbors and establish friendships -- not to mention the increased carbon output from the cars waiting to take little Jimmy home.

Something that does merit caution is letting kids on the internet. They don't have the capacity to hide from the score of predators who wait to take advantage of their youth and naivety.

The city of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services is offering a free workshop on Monday, Sept. 17, designed to educate adults about the dangers inherent in use of the Internet by children and what precautions adults can take to protect their families. The workshop is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brinley Community School, located at 6150 Smoke Ranch Road. Nevada Child Seekers and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are collaborating on this project. The free workshop will be offered again Oct. 15 and Nov. 19. Pre-registration is required.

For more information and to register, call (702) 229-2642.