As a parent of two—one 11 and the other nearly 8—I recently found myself reflecting on all those playdates my kids have enjoyed over the years. So, grab your calculator and let’s do some math together!
I decided to estimate the number of playdates my children have experienced. I played it safe and counted just two playdates per child each week, even though they’ve probably had a lot more than that. I focused on the times they were old enough to visit someone else’s house without me or a babysitter around. For the sake of simplicity, let’s assume all their early playdates were with me or a nanny.
Crunching the numbers, it turns out my kids have likely participated in around 1,000 playdates combined—those fun afternoons at friends’ houses, hours spent with neighbors, and the occasional gathering with new families from school.
So, why did I go through the trouble of tallying this up? Well, it all started when I stumbled upon a video from the Brady Campaign that really got under my skin. It urged me to dig a little deeper into the gun issue in America.
No matter your stance on gun control—there are strong opinions on both sides—one fact remains: gun violence is a significant problem, and kids are often caught in the crossfire. Did you know that one in three American households has a gun? That’s a conservative estimate from recent Pew Research figures. Gallup even suggested that nearly half of Americans—47 percent—have a firearm on their property. It’s not just a “red state” issue; gun ownership spans across political lines, so don’t think your kids are safe just because you live in a traditionally “blue” area.
Here’s a sobering statistic: nine children are accidentally shot every day in this country. I often read stories about these tragedies, feeling a rush of empathy for the parents involved. Yet, I never thought it could happen to us—classic denial, right? The truth is, 80 percent of unintentional gun deaths among kids under 15 occur at home. We tend to think of gun violence as gang-related, but accidental shootings are alarmingly common and usually happen in familiar surroundings.
Gun violence is the second leading cause of death for American children and teens. That’s right, folks—not cancer, diabetes, or even the flu—just car accidents are deadlier.
I started tallying those playdates because I realized that while I routinely ask about things like unleashed dogs or whether the older siblings are around, I’ve never once asked if there are guns in the home. Honestly, it feels awkward even typing that. But given how prevalent accidental gun violence is, shouldn’t it be a question we all ask?
The Brady Campaign’s Asking Saves Kids initiative offers great resources on how to approach this sensitive topic without starting a debate. We’re all parents at the end of the day, and whether or not we own a gun, we all want to keep our children safe.
By the way, June 21 is National Ask Day—an excellent opportunity to learn more about these important conversations.
So, with a thousand playdates under their belts, I ask you: how many have your kids had? Are you ready to start asking the tough questions?