[Gay State Conservative]

Cliff...nope.
Fireworks...nope.
Drive a car...maybe,going very slowly in a deserted field or parking lot.
Gun...nope

The other stuff...OK.

[9YearLurker]

Everything but the gun, the fireworks, and the bow and arrow for me.

[Noamie]

Everything but the sled before 8. Seriously. I’m 40 and have never been on a sled

[cyclotic]

Cliff-sure

Gun-absolutely. By learning the proper and safe way to shoot, you remove the mystery of firearms and subsequent misuse.

[Mears]

“Cliff...nope.”

---

A couple of my sons did The Quincy Quarries swim———I was not pleased.

.

[TXnMA]

"Cliff...nope.
Fireworks...nope.
Drive a car...maybe,going very slowly in a deserted field or parking lot.
Gun...nope"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Come on, now!

1. CLIFF: Their first "cliff" doesn't have to be anywhere near 20 feet. Even jumping off a single step will introduce them to the acceleration of gravity -- and the jolt of the stop. Let them keep increasing the height until they reach their limit for their age. (There are few things in life more valuable than knowing your own limits -- and, then, stretching them...) Of course, introducing them to injury-minimizing landing techniques is a most excellent idea.

2. FIREWORKS: If you live in a wimped-out place that prohibits fireworks, it's worth a drive into the country where they (and you) can give them a try. Those tiny little "ladyfingers" are a far better way to start than sparklers, which can inflict lifelong burn scars. Just start by placing them on the ground, lighting, and getting clear. (They'll soon learn how far to run -- and reduce it as they gain experience.) They'll also learn how long from lighting to Bang! -- which is most useful if they ever want to graduate to throwing the things... No need to go with the big stuff -- but be sure to just abandon and keep clear of things that (apparently) fizzle...

3. DRIVING: I started -- and started my kids and grandkids -- off-road -- on a tractor. It's amazing how soon they catch on... And the throttle and gearing can be set so low that you can step off, walk alongside, let them have the experience of "flying solo" -- and still step back on and take over before things go too far awry. You can literally see their self-confidence grow over a few minutes' time! (Even a riding mower [with the mowing deck shut off] will serve this purpose.) And they never forget that experience!!

4. GUNS: Even though I start all our kids & grandkids with an air rifle, I take them to the range, and follow the same safety protocols and marksmanship discipline I'd use for a .50 BMG. Empty plastic medicine bottles make great reactive targets -- and they amaze themselves at how far they can back away -- and still hit them ...if they use proper technique. Then I move them up to single-shot .22 rifles -- which eventually become theirs... Interestingly, the granddaughters plead for more range time as much as the grandsons do... '-)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hate to say this, but it appears that you, yourself, may have missed some of these very important "rites of passage". Join the kids -- it's never too late to grow up a bit more!

~~~~~~~~~~~

FWIW, I did all the things in the article -- and far more.'-) And, I'm now "on the return leg of my 80th orbit around our local star" -- and am still in one piece. And I attribute much of that life success to empirically and experientially-determined self-limits I learned as a kid -- with the freedom to learn by trial and error.