On 2018-03-21 11:10 AM, wrote:
> On Tue 20 Mar 2018 02:44:51p, l not -l told us...

>>> And that's why there is a childhood obesity problem.
>
> Childhood obesity is primarily due to the only activity most kids do
> is working a keyboard, and their parents making them play dates at an
> arcade where they stuff their face.

There is no one thing that is responsible for childhood obesity. It is
usually a combination of two or more factors. High sugar and high fat
food certainly contributes to the problem. There is a lot of shelf space
devoted to soda pop, snack foods, candy and sugared cereals. Lack of
exercise denies the kids the opportunity to burn off those extra
calories. Activity develops muscle, which will help to burn off more.
Fit, well muscled children tend to enjoy exercise and will work harder
to be better.The unfit and overweight kids have to work so much harder
for half the accomplishment and lose interest.

Parents also keep a tight leash on their kids these days. The kids get
bored. We had bicycles and backpacks, so we went off on long hikes or
bicycle rides. We either came back for lunch or we packed a lunch, and
we had to be back for supper. Later on I had to be back for my paper
route. My neighour used to drive her kids to catch the school but... at
the end of their driveway, and she would drive down and wait for the
bus, even when they were in high school. Lucky them that they did not
have to walk that 125 yards.

On 3/21/2018 11:26 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
>
> Parents also keep a tight leash on their kids these days. The kids get
> bored. We had bicycles and backpacks, so we went off on long hikes or
> bicycle rides.Â* We either came back for lunch or we packed a lunch, and
> we had to be back for supper. Later on I had to be back for my paper
> route. My neighour used to drive her kids to catch the school but... at
> the end of their driveway, and she would drive down and wait for the
> bus, even when they were in high school. Lucky them that they did not
> have to walk that 125 yards.
>

If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged
with neglect. In MD, police investigated because kids walk home from school
http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094

When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus,
train, then trolley. Today my parents would be arrested for letting me
go. At 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another state
to visit a former class mate.

On 2018-03-21 11:57 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 3/21/2018 11:26 AM, Dave Smith wrote:

> If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged
> with neglect. In MD, police investigated because kids walk home
> from school
> http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094
>
>
>
> When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus,
> train, then trolley. Today my parents would be arrested for letting
> me go. At 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another
> state to visit a former class mate.

I was about that age when my mother drove me and my 5 year old brother
to Toronto and dropped us of off at the street car terminal in the west
end of city to go and visit with my grandparents who live up in what was
then the north east corner of the city. She had written down
instructions and telephone numbers in case we got into trouble.

On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 5:57:38 AM UTC-10, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
> If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged
> with neglect. In MD, police investigated because kids walk home from school
> http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094
>
> When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus,
> train, then trolley. Today my parents would be arrested for letting me
> go. At 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another state
> to visit a former class mate.

Things have certainly changed in a few decades. What's common in Japan would terrify most Westerners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkVvXVDs5aI

"dsi1" wrote in message
...

On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 5:57:38 AM UTC-10, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
> If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged
> with neglect. In MD, police investigated because kids walk home from
> school
> http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094
>
> When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus,
> train, then trolley. Today my parents would be arrested for letting me
> go. At 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another state
> to visit a former class mate.

Things have certainly changed in a few decades. What's common in Japan would
terrify most Westerners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkVvXVDs5aI

==

My life was pretty much the same as Ed describes when I was young. My boys
were allowed much more freedom in that way then my daughter was.

I doubt I would see that now.

On 2018-03-21 11:28 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "dsi1"Â* wrote in message
> ...
>
> On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 5:57:38 AM UTC-10, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>
>> If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged
>> with neglect.Â* In MD, police investigated because kids walk home from
>> school
>> http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094
>>
>>
>> When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus,
>> train, then trolley.Â* Today my parents would be arrested for letting me
>> go.Â* At 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another state
>> to visit a former class mate.
>
> Things have certainly changed in a few decades. What's common in Japan
> would terrify most Westerners.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkVvXVDs5aI
>
> ==
>
> My life was pretty much the same as Ed describes when I was young.Â* My
> boys were allowed much more freedom in that way then my daughter was.
>
> I doubt I would see that now.
>
>
When I was young, not many people had cars so village communities like
mine were somewhat "enclosed". The village had a shoe shop and a shoe
repairer as well as a bicycle repair shop.

"graham" wrote in message news
On 2018-03-21 11:28 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "dsi1" wrote in message
> ...
>
> On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 5:57:38 AM UTC-10, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>
>> If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged
>> with neglect. In MD, police investigated because kids walk home from
>> school
>> http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094
>>
>> When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus,
>> train, then trolley. Today my parents would be arrested for letting me
>> go. At 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another state
>> to visit a former class mate.
>
> Things have certainly changed in a few decades. What's common in Japan
> would terrify most Westerners.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkVvXVDs5aI
>
> ==
>
> My life was pretty much the same as Ed describes when I was young. My
> boys were allowed much more freedom in that way then my daughter was.
>
> I doubt I would see that now.
>
>
When I was young, not many people had cars so village communities like
mine were somewhat "enclosed". The village had a shoe shop and a shoe
repairer as well as a bicycle repair shop.

==

Sounds very familiar.

"graham" > wrote in message
news
> On 2018-03-21 11:28 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>
>> "dsi1" wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>> On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 5:57:38 AM UTC-10, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>>
>>> If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged
>>> with neglect. In MD, police investigated because kids walk home from
>>> school
>>> http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094
>>>
>>> When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus,
>>> train, then trolley. Today my parents would be arrested for letting me
>>> go. At 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another state
>>> to visit a former class mate.
>>
>> Things have certainly changed in a few decades. What's common in Japan
>> would terrify most Westerners.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkVvXVDs5aI
>>
>> ==
>>
>> My life was pretty much the same as Ed describes when I was young. My
>> boys were allowed much more freedom in that way then my daughter was.
>>
>> I doubt I would see that now.
>>
>>
> When I was young, not many people had cars so village communities like
> mine were somewhat "enclosed". The village had a shoe shop and a shoe
> repairer as well as a bicycle repair shop.

Within one block of my house we had a grocery store, supermarket, drug
store, plant nursery that also sold candle making supplies, coin op laundry,
7-11, KFC, dry cleaners, hair salon, gas station, dentist office and a
restaurant. There was another restaurant and library a block further. If you
were to go a little further but still less than a mile away, there were all
sorts of things. Two five and dimes, a department store, more supermarkets,
another drugstore, ice cream shop, donut shop, more restaurants and other
businesses. Also two movie theaters. I was quite spoiled.

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
> On 3/21/2018 11:26 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
>>
>> Parents also keep a tight leash on their kids these days. The kids get
>> bored. We had bicycles and backpacks, so we went off on long hikes or
>> bicycle rides. We either came back for lunch or we packed a lunch, and
>> we had to be back for supper. Later on I had to be back for my paper
>> route. My neighour used to drive her kids to catch the school but... at
>> the end of their driveway, and she would drive down and wait for the bus,
>> even when they were in high school. Lucky them that they did not have to
>> walk that 125 yards.
>>
>
> If younger kids stray from the front of the house parents are charged with
> neglect. In MD, police investigated because kids walk home from school
> http://wjla.com/news/local/silver-sp...e-alone-112094
>
> When I was 8, I could go to my grandparents house by taking a bus, train,
> then trolley. Today my parents would be arrested for letting me go. At
> 10 we rode our bikes across a mile long bridge to another state to visit a
> former class mate.


Yes, at 9 (me) and 11 (brother) we were at the river, running high bluffs
every day in the summer. Now, we laugh and say we wonder what our parents
could have been thinking, but that was pretty much the norm in the mid 50's.

Cheri

On 2018-03-21 9:26 AM, Dave Smith wrote:

>
> Parents also keep a tight leash on their kids these days. The kids get
> bored. We had bicycles and backpacks, so we went off on long hikes or
> bicycle rides.Â* We either came back for lunch or we packed a lunch, and
> we had to be back for supper. Later on I had to be back for my paper
> route. My neighour used to drive her kids to catch the school but... at
> the end of their driveway, and she would drive down and wait for the
> bus, even when they were in high school. Lucky them that they did not
> have to walk that 125 yards.
>
Those days are long gone and ain't coming back. I was about 6 and my
sister about 4 when we wandered about a mile out of the village to watch
the village soccer team. We arrived home when it was almost dark, being
November, and although my parents were surprised about where we had
been, they weren't a bit worried.

On 2018-03-21 1:04 PM, graham wrote:
> On 2018-03-21 9:26 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>>
>> Parents also keep a tight leash on their kids these days. The kids get
>> bored. We had bicycles and backpacks, so we went off on long hikes or
>> bicycle rides.Â* We either came back for lunch or we packed a lunch,
>> and we had to be back for supper. Later on I had to be back for my
>> paper route. My neighour used to drive her kids to catch the school
>> but... at the end of their driveway, and she would drive down and wait
>> for the bus, even when they were in high school. Lucky them that they
>> did not have to walk that 125 yards.
>>
> Those days are long gone and ain't coming back. I was about 6 and my
> sister about 4 when we wandered about a mile out of the village to watch
> the village soccer team. We arrived home when it was almost dark, being
> November, and although my parents were surprised about where we had
> been, they weren't a bit worried.

I said something to my mother years later about our long leash and she
said she always knew where we were. Okay. If she wanted to believe
that. I don't think she had any idea how far we roamed.

When I was a teen I used to hitchhike a lot. In my first year of high
school my best friend moved about 40 miles north of Toronto and a few
months later we moved down to Niagara. I used to hitchhike up there and
and back a couple times a month, usually going up Friday night and
returning Sunday night. On the weekends in between another friend and I
spent a lot of time in Toronto. I would tell my parents I was going
downtown. I think they assumed I meant downtown St.Catharines. Nope, it
was downtown Toronto.