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Doughiska - safe for child?

  • 21-08-2014 9:50pm
    #1
    sh247
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭


    Hello all,

    my eldest and only child (13 y/o) has asked me to go to Doughiska, specifically the park, with friends. First of all I cannot understand why a 13-year-old would want to hang around in a park. Secondly, I have not met the friends but he has known them for a few months now and says they are nice and not ''trouble''.

    I have heard some Doughiska horror stories and am reluctant to let him hang around there or other areas he is unfamiliar with, but I would like some more opinions.

    Thank you
    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    ErnieBert
    Registered Users Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭ErnieBert


    Do you live in the area? What time of the day does he want to hang out in the park?
    Is he talking about the playground?

    I'm not from the area so I can't vouch for the area or your son or his friends but you got to let a boy be a boy.




    Maybe he's got a girlfriend.....?


  • #3
    zarquon
    Registered Users Posts: 3,734 ✭✭✭zarquon


    What "Doughiska horror stories" would they be? Also there is nothing wrong with kids hanging out in parks. Why do you find it so strange. The woods are nearby also which can be a pretty cool place if your young and adventurous. Your child should be encouraged to go out and not coddled up in front of the xbox.

    I see nothing wrong with the request.


  • #4
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,659 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    It's no different to hanging out in the park in any other area, TBH.

    Probably safer than Salthill. (ref: http://galwaybayfm.ie/call-for-initiative-to-tackle-drunken-youth-gangs-in-salthill/)

    Whether or not it's safe to let a 13 yo have unstructured time and hang out somewhere outside of the immediate neighbourhood is more about the kid than the neighbourhood in most cases. Some 13 yo's practically have to be escorted to school, while others are fine organising pretty much their entire lives by themselves.


  • #5
    Mr_A
    Registered Users Posts: 500 ✭✭✭Mr_A


    Am down in that area regularly with my 3 year old either on bike in woods or in playground. Have seen very little that would worry me. A bit of messing from teenyboppers- but nothing in any way major. It should be grand.


  • #6
    sh247
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭sh247


    Thanks all.

    He is a good kid and quite mature.

    As for ''horror stories'', I have heard of drugs etc. being offered to teens even in the park.


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  • #7
    sh247
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭sh247


    zarquon, I find it strange as he seems to be past the park/playground stage.


  • #8
    Cheshire Cat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,276 ✭✭✭Cheshire Cat


    sh247 wrote: »
    zarquon, I find it strange as he seems to be past the park/playground stage.

    Is he? My two are older and regularly meet their friends in parks / at pitches to play soccer or frisbee. Being outside playing with friends is not restricted to pre-teens and should be encouraged.


  • #9
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,659 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    sh247 wrote: »
    I have heard of drugs etc. being offered to teens even in the park.

    AFAIK, it happens all over town. Most probably even outside schools


  • #10
    Cheshire Cat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,276 ✭✭✭Cheshire Cat


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    AFAIK, it happens all over town. Most probably even outside schools

    Most definitely outside schools or even in the yard and not limited to secondary schools either. Doesn't mean we shouldn't send our children to school :o


  • #11
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    sh247 wrote: »
    As for ''horror stories'', I have heard of drugs etc. being offered to teens even in the park.

    The idea of a drug-dealer skulking around in parks looking to sell to kids is a complete myth.

    If a kid tries drugs it's because his friends are doing it, so watch who they keep company with and if they are good kids, you can let your kid roam free enough with them.

    Also most drug deals are done by mobile phone, dealers don't need to hang around anywhere or push anything on anyone.


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  • #12
    inisboffin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,385 ✭✭✭inisboffin


    El_Dangeroso wrote: »
    The idea of a drug-dealer skulking around in parks looking to sell to kids is a complete myth.

    If a kid tries drugs it's because his friends are doing it, so watch who they keep company with and if they are good kids, you can let your kid roam free enough with them.

    Also most drug deals are done by mobile phone, dealers don't need to hang around anywhere or push anything on anyone.

    It is over exaggerated true, but 'pushing' (while not the most accurate word I agree) absolutely happens, anywhere and everywhere, and isn't a thing of the past quite yet! You can order pizza online, you can go to where your friends buy pizza, you can walk by and smell a waft and want some, or the odd time, and industrious pizza guy starting out hands out samples with a view to you buying a full pizza next week! :cool:

    Oh and in my day, the local park or outside the chipper were *absolutely* where teens went to score, because people gathered there and it was a natural marketplace.

    OP, I wouldn't wouldn't particularly worry about teens hanging out in a park, it's pretty normal, and no more drug prone than Shop Street


  • #13
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    inisboffin wrote: »
    It is over exaggerated true, but 'pushing' (while not the most accurate word I agree) absolutely happens, anywhere and everywhere, and isn't a thing of the past quite yet! You can order pizza online, you can go to where your friends buy pizza, you can walk by and smell a waft and want some, or the odd time, and industrious pizza guy starting out hands out samples with a view to you buying a full pizza next week! :cool:

    Oh and in my day, the local park or outside the chipper were *absolutely* where teens went to score, because people gathered there and it was a natural marketplace.

    OP, I wouldn't wouldn't particularly worry about teens hanging out in a park, it's pretty normal, and no more drug prone than Shop Street

    Maybe it happened in the 80's but really it doesn't any more. You don't get arrested for selling pizza in broad daylight. It's way too risky and generally the dealers don't need to bother.


  • #14
    dr.bollocko
    Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,943 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    So I heard there was free pizza...


  • #15
    inisboffin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,385 ✭✭✭inisboffin


    El_Dangeroso wrote: »
    Maybe it happened in the 80's but really it doesn't any more. You don't get arrested for selling pizza in broad daylight. It's way too risky and generally the dealers don't need to bother.

    It may not happen a lot but it does definitely happen. I'm speaking from personal observational experience, and the experience of a friend's teen. It's way more visible if you are 'looking for it' that's the whole idea.


  • #16
    _Whimsical_
    Registered Users Posts: 7,955 ✭✭✭_Whimsical_


    sh247 wrote: »
    zarquon, I find it strange as he seems to be past the park/playground stage.

    13 + is exactly the park stage. If it's not a park it's car park of a shopping centre, sitting on a specified wall etc. It's what Irish teenagers do,its how they meet other teenagers and that malarkey.

    Might be no harm to drive past sometime and see if they're standing around huddled in a group for hours or playing football or something. I guess check and see if he comes home smelling of smoke or hash too. As someone already said it's not drug dealers you need to worry about, it's his friends. If they're drinking and smoking etc chances are he'll be doing it too in time. If you want to meet his friends let him get some sort of games console and whatever game he really wants and then prepare to hand over your tv room. Not a bad idea really if it gives you a bit of insight into what sort of friends he has.


This discussion has been closed.
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