When can a kid go to bathroom himself?

Gracey said:
Howard -- I think you're also being dismissive of intuition (and of the Quasimother)
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I agree with her. These creeps are all over the place (not special to Hong Kong) and this kind of thing is not reported much by the newspapers. I'm only surmising that this is due to a lack of danger from them.
Even pretty relaxed, friendly people have our feelers out for creeps, weirdos. Even kids feel it.
I grew up in an extremely safe small town, where we were free to play outside.
But if some strange man was around the park, staring at kids, filming kids in a suspicious fashion, reading porn, generally being a creep, we'd get the hell away. Any parent with any sense would gently shoo the kids off somewhere else.
I mean, wouldn't you? It's just common sense.
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Ofcourse I would, gently. Who wants to have a creep hanging around them or their kids; Its gross.
The point I'm trying to make is that gross does not equate to unsafe nor dangerous.

Are you trying to be sarcastic? No, of course there is no "magic" age. But we all know that young children are less aware when something inappropriate is happening -- a stranger touches them, or leads them away by the hand, or an older boy tries to bully or rob him. Tots are lighter, easier to carry away, weaker, and might not shout for help like an older child. Even if there is nothing as serious as a molester, 3-year-olds have a tendency to decide they're done peeing and wander away.
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Yes, I was trying to be sarcastic and well aware there is not magical age; from my own kids, I have one thats been going alone since 3-4 and I've got one that wont go by themselves at 10.
My point is that the decision whether to go or not to go should be based on child ability.
What I find unsettling (and I find that you are doing this as well in your comments) is that parents are deciding mainly based on irrational fears. I believe this to be unhealthy (for parents and children) and such thoughts should be re-examined in order to bring up children with a healthy respect instead of fear.
 
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hmmm... i checked in on the thread from my mobile, but i didn't post anything.... strange! sorry about that!
 
shwetakhanna said:
HC - when it comes to the safety of our children, a fear is just fear, you cannot classify it into rational or irrational.
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That is precisely the point, isnt it?
There are some people that cannot make distinction between likely and unlikely events therefore they choose to let fear rule dictate their lives; after all, better safe than sorry...
There are others that can look at a situation rationally and make an informed decision based on real (instead of imaginary) risk.
 
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