Newmarket mother missed valuable lesson

Re Newmarket mom told her 4 kids too loud in backyard, March 13

A wonderful educational opportunity has been missed. This is the opportunity to teach respect and consideration for others. These little boys will grow up thinking that righteous indignation trumps all. Instead, they could have learned that they live in community with others and that what they do has an effect on those others. I have been a teacher for over 40 years. I know that, if consulted, the older two would have come up with some solutions — quieter voices, reminding each other when they get too noisy. These parents underestimate their children and are doing them and the community a great disservice. Gail Rutherford, Toronto

It’s interesting how neighbours with a reasonable request are held to be the villains here. Asking a woman to get her kids to tone down the screaming is met with her response: “Excuse me for allowing my children time to use their imaginations and problem-solving skills and get some needed vitamin D.”

Nobody asked her to outlaw outdoor play, safety, use of imagination, problem-solving skills or vitamin D. As for what they actually asked (for less screaming), her response is to wonder if yelling at her children to quiet down would help anyone.

Actually, nobody asked her to yell at them. Perhaps she could lead by example, talking to them in a civil way. As someone who works with children every day, I find they often pick up on the tone set by the adults around them. Part of bringing them up is to teach them to respect the feelings of other people. Mike Allen, Burlington