Do you see kids playing outside anymore in Virginia?

[Stonecoldharbours]

It's just a different world and we have to protect our children at all costs...We can let them explore within within limits, and of course by all means that does mean knowing where they are, checking in on them if they are teenagers and being a parent by supervising them. Sadly, the world has changed, esp after what had happened tonight to all those children at VTECH, its just another wake up call for us, to be on guard, but with common sense and not panicking either, there is a difference and no one ever said to panic here on, no one even suggested that here.

[summers19]

In our neighborhood in Chesapeake, VA there are tons of children playing outside all the time...winter, spring, summer and fall. Adults are outside gardening, talking to each other, kids are bike riding, skate boarding, running around, creating their own games, etc. Kids will come to our door asking to play with our kids. They ride their big wheels up and down the sidewalk racing each other. I know the kids and their parents who come to our door. It's a tight knit neighborhood and we all look out for each other. I'm very happy and thankful that we live in a neighborhood in which our kids can remain free to be kids. We're raising our boys to love nature and spontaniety. This neighborhood lets us do this. So yes, kids do still play outside.

[salomea]

PghPaNative...just wondering what town in VA did that happen to you? Im have a 10 yr old daughter, and we are moving to the NOVA area this summer as I will be attending GMU in the fall....any opinions to what area NOT to move to?....We will have to rent for at least one year..
Thanks for your help..

[saganista]

Virtually all the areas around GMU (Fairfax, Burke, Vienna, etc.) are quite safe. I think PPN's point is that even the safe places aren't perfectly safe, so it pays (at the worst, in terms of peace of mind) to keep an eye on your kids no matter where you are. That's a good point, but too many people take it too far. Any kid deserves the chance to be a kid. None deserves to be treated like a bar of gold at Ft. Knox...