There are some great points about agency. This does look different for families of color. We do not always have the safety or luxury of allowing our children to explore as they are often seen as a disturbance or a potential threat in spaces. The trauma they ensue when being targeted while just being children and being curious creates a level of fear for them that trumps agency too often. That trip through the gift shop can often be accompanied by being followed and the innocent exploration on the runway can result in a visit from airport security. It has happened to us and we have witnessed it happening to others. We have often developed our own safe ways to allow our children agency while protecting them from bigotry and bias in public that can interfere with their natural curiousness.
The advice is solid, but not nuanced enough if someone has never explored the concept.
I would never start at the airport to let my kids roam, if we hadn't have lots of practice, experience and trust building many times before. The airport is not a playground, it's really more the next step up.
There are some great points about agency. This does look different for families of color. We do not always have the safety or luxury of allowing our children to explore as they are often seen as a disturbance or a potential threat in spaces. The trauma they ensue when being targeted while just being children and being curious creates a level of fear for them that trumps agency too often. That trip through the gift shop can often be accompanied by being followed and the innocent exploration on the runway can result in a visit from airport security. It has happened to us and we have witnessed it happening to others. We have often developed our own safe ways to allow our children agency while protecting them from bigotry and bias in public that can interfere with their natural curiousness.
Came here to say this. Thank you, Crystal.
Yupp. The great wolf lodge is great for this.
The advice is solid, but not nuanced enough if someone has never explored the concept.
I would never start at the airport to let my kids roam, if we hadn't have lots of practice, experience and trust building many times before. The airport is not a playground, it's really more the next step up.