A good place for children to play

In Mexico, most of the kids are allowed to play everywhere, which is considered essential for their development. However, the fact that they do not have a proper place for recreation is widely considered a problem. As a member of my community, I have realized that a large number of neighbors do not like that children play on the street without supervision.

Perhaps only certain people have changed, or society at large has suffered a transformation; but the reality is that children who play unattended on the street are in extreme danger. In Mexico, they could be kidnapped for matters of underage prostitution or pornography; hard-working exploitation; and traffic of organs or drugs.

On the one hand, it is healthy that kids play with other children and meet new people because it would be the only way for them to develop communication skills within peers. On the other hand, it is important that someone takes care of them so that they do not get hurt being hit by a car; which leads to serious consequences such as contusions, bone fractures, concussions, and even death.

In my case, I remember that my uncle used to babysit me every other weekend because my mother worked. Once, my cousin and I decided to go out of the house without my uncle’s permission: we wanted to play in the park across the street. Since we were 5 years old and we liked to run, we thought that to cross the street while running would be fun. Nevertheless, we were wrong: as my cousin crossed the street, a van suddenly appeared and almost hit her. After this experience, we learned not to play alone on the street and to ask for permission; we were lucky.

Finally, there exists a solution to this problem and it is that families should keep in mind that children are an immense responsibility and they need protection. Every mother and father of Mexico must understand that the more they leave their kids alone on the streets, the more they lose them. In other words, quality time among members of a family is transcendental for their personal growth; everyone has the right to feel treasured, respected, and loved. Make it real and believe there is a good reason to change; the main motive is your kid.