11 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do (PHOTOS)

 11 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do (PHOTOS)

The original idea for a whole book about dangerous things you should let your children do was a bit of a fluke. But after spending a weekend watching kids lick a 9-volt battery for the first time (at Maker Faire Bay Area) or reading about families who blog their way through the book (like the Johnsen Clan, featured in this slideshow) it's clear that what kids needs these days is... more danger in their lives!
Of course, I'm not talking about things that are life-threatening or emotionally scarring. However, kids these days are often hardly allowed the time and freedom just to be kids. How did you spend your summer vacation as a kid? Roaming your town with your friends, catching fireflies, sneaking into a movie, swimming in the local quarry, taking the L-train down to watch a Cubs game? And how do your kids spend their summer vacation? One week of soccer, two weeks at summer camp, one week at grandma's, one week of swimming lessons, two weeks at cheerleading camp?
"Fifty Dangerous Things (you should let your children do)" is an invitation to kids and parents alike to spend a little time doing something silly, fun, educational, and yes - potentially a little dangerous.
Take a look at what a few kids have to say about doing some dangerous things...

Topic 21: Spend an hour blindfolded

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Sidney (age 10): I thought it was easy. I wasn't scared, so my dad tried to get me to do crazy things like eating dinner blindfolded and we went outside. I just listened and went where I heard people.

Dad reports: Either Sidney was cheating, or she has the best hearing of any person I know. I was so convinced she was cheating that I added another dishtowel that went below her chin. She was still fine getting around, so her senses must just be superior to mine. Wyatt only lasted about ten minutes, but Sidney enjoyed the full hour we set aside to do this one. She ate dinner, played hide-and-seek with Wyatt, and took a stroll around the yard. She felt around a little bit, but mostly just tried to make her way around by listening to what other people were doing.