Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Gemscot » Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:35 am

This scenario cropped up at uni recently during a lunchtime conversation, and as a psychology student, I would be inrtigued to read members' opinions.

Your 10 year old son (Paul) has some friends around and since it is a nice sunny day, they are playing in your large back yard.

They decide to play Cowboys & Indians, and one child (Matthew) is selected to be the cowboy and is tied to the washing line pole with your washing line.

At this point, do you:

1 - Stop the game and forbid the children to ever play it again?
2 - Allow the game to continue within clearly defined limits?
3 - Allow the game to continue without any intervention on your behalf?

About an hour or so later, you return to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and you look out of the window at the children. They are all sat or laid on the grass talking and the game has obviously finished. Matthew is still tied to the pole, showing no signs of distress or protest, and the children obviously don't have any immediate plans to release him.

At this point, do you:

1 - Make the children release Matthew straight away?
2 - Ask Matthew if he's ok and tell the children they must release him in a certain time? How soon?
3 - Allow Matthew to remain tied up without any intervention on your part?

If you go with 3 at this point, how much longer would you allow them children to keep Matthew tied up before you intervened?

When we played Cowboys n Indians as kids, it was always on the clear understanding that the Indians are the good guys and the innocent victims, and the cowboys were the bad girls and servants of the devil!


:bound:

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Fesselfan » Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:20 pm

My favourite option is not there :(
Pretend to not have seen something, but keep an eye out for problems.

Cheers

FF
There are 10 kind of people in the world.
Those who understand binary numeral system, and those who don't.

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Gemscot » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:15 am

That would be Number 3?

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Fesselfan » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:15 pm

Gemscot wrote:That would be Number 3?


I dont think so...I think number 3 is "simply don't care". My idea is to let them play, but watch out for certain safety aspects (no choking etc.).

Cheers

FF
There are 10 kind of people in the world.
Those who understand binary numeral system, and those who don't.

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby tungstene » Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:25 am

Good morning.
For the first situation, i replie 2.
Conditions :
- no torture (tickling, gentle punches); but allow the children to paint Matthew's face)
- no gag and no blindfold
- the children are allowed to not release Matthew in the first half hour, even he asks to, unless he is obviously in distress
- afterwards, they must release Matthew if he asks to
- anyways made the children untie Matthew after one hour to the maximum
- after Matthew is released, allow another mate to be selected or to volunteer to be prisoner

For the second situation, i replie 1.
But suggest the children to switch to another prisoner.
Allow them to play this game again another time.

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Gemscot » Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:47 pm

DAK - I think you're wrong. Number 3 doesn't mean you don't care, and you can keep a discreet watch without interfering unless it becomes neccessary.

I agree thought that young children of this age shouldn't be tied up for more than 2 hours.

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Itsme » Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:40 pm

I would say with both the situations, ask him how he is doing. And if he is having fun, and there is no risk to his health, let it go on indefinately (withing reason of course) with pretty constant checks on safety.

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Gemscot » Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:45 pm

I'm really sorry DAK - it was Feselfan who wrote that Number 3 implied the parent couldn't care less. Forgive me?

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Sounder » Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:12 pm

The problem is, the thing I would do is not on the list.
I would make sure Matthew was OK with being tied up, then just keep an eye on them.
I would not set their limits for them, but I would intervene if I felt it was necessary.

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Gemscot » Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:31 pm

Sounder - Number 3 would allow you to do just that.

Matthew is not in any distress, so can we assume he's ok with being tied up?

I think some time limit would have to be set thought - perhaps 2 hours? We wouldn't want Matthew becomming another Tyler Gene McMillans!

Re: Harmless Childsplay?

Postby Misquamicut » Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:46 pm

I would probably go out and check after fifteen minutes to see the ropes are not cutting off circulation. I would laugh and joke so they didnt think I was controlling things. Depending on the heat and sun, he might need sun screen and water. I think most youngsters would not keep their friend tied for too long. If he asked most would release him.