spaeking about tires, this time about bicycle tires

[SteveO]

space-time wrote:
[quote=cbelt3]
Give each kid a tire pressure gauge and teach them to check tire pressure before each ride. And make a pump accessible. Then teach them how to fix their own tube leaks.

I am not sure how to respond. In principle you are right. But these kids are born and raised in a world where we grownups do everything for them. They can’t even take responsibility for recharging AA cells for mice and keyboards. They barely manage to charge their school chrome book and their iPhone. They would hate me if I asked them to fix tube leaks. This is entirely our fault.
Think of 20 years from now when they may hate you because you didn't ask them to do xyz? Just another viewpoint; we do our kids no favors by not helping them become self-sufficient. My brother's kids are just about helpless because he and his wife do everything for them. They've done their kids a great disservice by coddling them and it shows: their kids can't even be asked to feed their own dogs — even when their mom is at her cancer treatment appointments. The only two left at home are now 15 and 17. SMH.

Not saying that's at all what you're doing, I have no idea what you're doing and it's none of my business...but seeing parents who coddle their kids is all too common and troubling, and I think it will have very negative repercussions for our nation and world.

Think of how much further ahead kids who actually are self-sufficient, can charge their own devices, fix a flat, etc. will be in their lives...they'll have the confidence to tackle challenges and rise above adversity.

A buddy of mine makes his kids do chores in exchange for "screen time." He says he doesn't just "let them graze." This is awesome imo. I wish it were more common.

I might suggest using the phrase "teaching them" instead of "making them" for anyone concerned about asking their kids to do more than they think they can.

Regarding the tires: I cycle about 3x/week, anywhere from 20 to sometimes 100 miles per session. Teach the kids to keep the tires aired up weekly to the recommended PSI on the outside of the tire and you won't have the problem with the valve stems slipping. Look up "ABC Quick Check" and teach your kids to perform it before every ride at very least. I teach bike safety to kids and adults and that's the first piece of knowledge we give/gift them.

[space-time]

SteveO, excellent point. Out kids do some chores. they fold their laundry, they clean up their room, the older one vacuums the house. They unload dishwasher. But they could still do more. They need to get used to charge their batteries, to inflate their tires, etc.

[mattkime]

SteveO wrote: Teach the kids to keep the tires aired up weekly to the recommended PSI on the outside of the tire and you won't have the problem with the valve stems slipping.

My son is 3 1/2 and the other day he was pretending to pump up him bike tires. Kids like to have a job to do.