Let them play with the knife...they'll learn

I have come to the conclusion that our precious little snowflakes are going to get hurt at some point during their childhood.  Really what can we do about it?  Bubble wrap?  Keep them inside?  Remove any furniture that has a corner?  I don't think so.

Kids get hurt.  It is a reality of growing up.  How else can they learn what is dangerous and what isn't?  I learned when I was a kid.  I burned my hand on the stove when I should have kept away from it.  I stepped on a nail when I wasn't paying attention.  I refused to look away when my Dad was hammering a steel post one day and have the scar on the side of my face as a reminder.  Did I learn from each of those mistakes?  Yep.  Did I do it again?  Nope.

With our kids we warn them and try to keep them as safe as possible but we can't stop them all the time.  Case in point, two nights ago they were in the bath and we were in the living room.  I heard some commotion and Declan began crying.  When we went in his thumb was bleeding as was his finger.  His other hand was holding a disposable razor.  

Let me be clear, we have a responsibility to try and keep them safe.  I didn't see the razor when I was drawing their bath which is my fault.  But in the end they have been warned about not touching them if they see them.  Do you think that Declan will play with one again?  Not likely.  Aside from a band aid and about 5 minutes of crying, no permanent harm done.  

I am sure that Rhys is going to burn himself at some point.  The boy just keeps going back to the stove time and again no matter how many times we tell him not to.  I don't want him to get hurt but we can't be everywhere all the time.

I know that I am not going to win Father of the year for this one but in the end I think that these little lessons in childhood are important.   Agree?  Disagree?