Kids "wandering" on Shabbos

Posted: Sun, Dec 26 2010, 11:31 pm Post subject: Kids "wandering" on Shabbos

Apparently where I live, "the thing" to do for kids is to wander around on Shabbos. I have seen kids as little as 6 or 7, but mostly it's from age 10 on up, prilmarily girls. They just walk up and down the streets for hours chit-chatting. We live in a smallish town. Dh and I totally don't like this activity, and don't let our girls do it. Two of our girls, ages 10 and 13, both had the "opportunity" to go wandering with groups of girls this past Shabbos, but we said no. My girls were OK with us not letting them. They even said they both think the whole thing is wierd and kind of boring, just walking up and down the streets for hours. They both said they would rather play a game or read.

However, it got me thinking....is this normally what pre-teen and teen girls do Shabbos afternoon? Also, are we being overprotective by not allowing them do this (although they would probably not want to anyway)? Are we denying them social time with their friends by not letting them or even encouraging them to go?

Thanks!

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 27 2006 Age: 30 Posts: 2535

As a teenager I always went on shabbos walks in the afternoons with friends. Usually we were coming/going from one friend's house to another.

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 08 2010 Posts: 2534

Well it's freezing where I live right now but in warmer weather, if you live in a safe neighborhood, I don't see anything wrong with a group of girls going for a shabbos walk together. They don't have to sit in the living room to have a conversation but can enjoy the fresh air, nice weather, etc. while spending time with friends.
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