Totally agree with this piece. I remember a childhood like that (though it didn't go as far as swimming in the ocean alone) and it's sad so many kids don't get that now and are instead cooped up indoors playing games consoles and watching TV.
That said, the world has definitely changed. While I'd agree that the world is actually safer now than ever before, I think people and the sense of community necessary to raise children is significantly worse than when I was a kid - at least here in the UK. People ignore children in a way they never did before - see http://is.gd/51r7d - from fears of parental retribution or accusations of paedophilia, which has been a bit of an alarmist topic in the British media for the last 5-10 years here - http://is.gd/51rdy.
While I'd love to let my daughter have as free and as rich a childhood as I had (richer, even), I'm not convinced British society as a whole provides a healthy environment for her to have that freedom when adults are scared of conversing with unknown children or even helping them in vulnerable or potentially dangerous situations. Can't say I entirely blame this attitude though, as I've ignored quite a few kids for much the same reasons.. though I'd like to believe I'd step in and do something if they were in danger..
That said, the world has definitely changed. While I'd agree that the world is actually safer now than ever before, I think people and the sense of community necessary to raise children is significantly worse than when I was a kid - at least here in the UK. People ignore children in a way they never did before - see http://is.gd/51r7d - from fears of parental retribution or accusations of paedophilia, which has been a bit of an alarmist topic in the British media for the last 5-10 years here - http://is.gd/51rdy.
While I'd love to let my daughter have as free and as rich a childhood as I had (richer, even), I'm not convinced British society as a whole provides a healthy environment for her to have that freedom when adults are scared of conversing with unknown children or even helping them in vulnerable or potentially dangerous situations. Can't say I entirely blame this attitude though, as I've ignored quite a few kids for much the same reasons.. though I'd like to believe I'd step in and do something if they were in danger..