Why are parents so against their kids getting hurt, dirty, or eating junk in moderation?

I know what you are talking about. I am about as "Free Range" as I can be with having a just turned 2 year old. He plays in the mud, played outside in the snow when it was winter, would LOVE to jump in the ocean (but that's a tad too far for me), and is generally a healthy and happy boy. He gets colds occasionally, but who doesn't?

I think some parents are just plain terrified of their kids getting hurt, physically and emotionally. They don't realize that kids are so much more resilient than we give them credit for. The fact is, people need a little "adversity" and "suffering" to help them become more resilient and emotionally healthy. People who have been molly-coddled their whole lives completely lose it when things go wrong. Disappointments and the occasional scrape and bruise adds character. In a sense, the phrase "What ever doesn't kill you just makes you stronger" is true. A child who has been allowed to explore and push the boundaries somewhat and have occasionally had the boundaries push back will grow up with a healthy respect for their strengths and limitations. A child needs to learn that things aren't always happy and pleasant and that mommy and daddy won't always bail them out.

Sorry, I an get a little rambly and preachy when it comes to this subject and I have a lot more on my mind yet to say, but I won't bore you or the other readers with the ramblings of my mind. I'll just say, kids are a lot tougher than we give them credit for, allowing kids to get dirty or *GASP* even hurt from time to time will not hurt them-it actually helps them, and overprotection can cause adults that can't function in life. I had a wonderfully free range childhood. I was constantly outside in the summer...and winter too. I walked to school, I had chores, I got spanked when I was disobedient. I am the better for it.

Oh and about junk food. I try to apply the 90/10 rule. 90% of what we eat is healthy, so we can relax and eat "crap" the other 10%.

I have no idea.

Kids need to learn to fend for themselves or else they'll still be living at home at age 30, incapable of doing anything without mommy's help.

Or their mom will go with them on job interviews.

I'd rather have my kid fall and scrape his knee and learn from the experience and not do it again than to not know how to react if he were to be seriously injured.

Edit to add: It's the same mentality feeding the anti-vaccination trend. Moms think it's somehow better that their child risk getting DEADLY diseases like whooping cough so they avoid autism or soreness and the sniffles after receiving a vaccination.

Because the soreness and sniffles and autism reflects poorly on the MOTHER, just like the scrapes and bumps.

There is a balance.My children always get a kiss and a hug when they are hurt and yet they are not fearful or nervous children.I do think a little caution is not a bad thing though.It is better to look before you leap many times in life.

My children don't eat dirt and if they were I would be wondering why.It doesn't taste good and I don't actually know any kids who do that.Sure,they fall and they are " allowed "to fall (it's not a choice you know)but I am not harsh about it I am their mother and mothers kiss scraped knees and such it's what they do.It's called caring.

I really don't understand it either. When it's not raining or freezing cold my kids stay outside. I check on them but I don't hover over them. They have all kinds of scrapes and bruises from playing or falling. I notice when we go to the park there are those strange parents who freak out if another kid touches their kid. If you don't want your kid getting exposed to germs and other little kids you probably shouldn't take them to a freaking public park. It actually makes me mad sometimes because my boys are VERY outgoing and love to make new friends. Some of these moms will come up to my 4 year old and say "don't talk to him, don't touch him" what the heck? My 4 year old recently learned to ride a bike without training wheels and he was showing his grandma and he didn't have a shirt on. He wrecked on the road and got a pretty bad road rash but he just got right up and said "that hurt" and kept riding. I don't baby my kids, if they get hurt we tell them to shake it off. There's no need to cry unless you broke a bone.

They think theyre saving them but they are hurting them by not letting them build up immune systems or letting them get tougher and be kids. When i was younger i was dirty all the time and played games with my friends all day, now im in perfect shape and never get sick.