I'm sorry but I have a real problem with the "fear of any type of injury" mentality.

I mean c'mon, what's next?.......If they bite their tongue while eating do we remove all their teeth? If they stub their toes do we require everyone to wear steel toed boots? If they poke themselves with a rough fingernail do we have their fingernails removed? If they scratch a mosquito bite until it bleeds do we forbid outside play and scratching? If they bump their heads on a desk do we ban having a desk? If they trip over their shoelaces do we ban walking?

I grew up riding a bicycle without a helmet (never hit my head, but did once knock loose my front teeth which were saved and still healthy to this day) I learned that falling hurts and to be more careful.

I grew up rollerskating on the sidewalk without elbow/knee pads (I skinned myself up a few times, nothing serious) I learned that falling hurts and to be more careful.

I grew up playing on a playground that had gravel not woodchips (I fell a few times, got some gravel stuck in my skin a couple times, nothing serious) I learned not to do crazy stunts because falling hurts and had to be more careful.

I've stubbed my toes, skinned my legs/arms, got poked in the eye with a pencil eraser once (accidentally dropped my book on it and it flipped up to hit me in the eye, hurt for a few days then was fine), twisted my ankle once, and bonked my head a few times. I survived without any later consequences.

I was raised in a household that did NOT have outlet covers without major incidents. I was raised by a single mom in a household without locks on the cupbords (NEVER did I play with any cleaners or anything in the cupboards). I was raised without baby gates, baby monitors, and padded cribs. My mom made sure to keep a very close watch on me and made sure that anyone babysitting me did the same.

Given how I, and many of my peers, were raised and ALL survived without major incidents, I have a hard time with this "fear of any type of injury" mentality. Sometimes a kid kinda has to get a little banged up to learn things from riding a bike to learning that the stove is hot don't touch it.

Many may not agree, but that's my opinion anyways.