It’s a parenting ‘trend’ that gets everyone talking. But there’s a reason we don’t need it in Australia.
So, here we are: Two kids, aged six and 10, play alone in a park.
A passer-by sees them. Observes them. Wonders where their attending adult is. And calls the cops.
Is that a stupid, or eminently sensible thing to do?
It’s a debate that’s raging in the US today after a family from Maryland, Danielle and Alexander Meitiv found themselves under investigation after allowing their children to do just this.
Read about it here: Parents investigated for neglect after letting children walk home alone.
This is not the first time that the cops have been called to the Meitivs. The couple are self-proclaimed “free-range” parents – who embrace an anti-helicopter movement where they allow their children play outdoors and walk home without adult supervision.
Top Comments
Hmm, I'm in two minds about this. I let my kids go to parks, and walk to and from school without me from about Year 5 on. But any younger than that, I think there is enough "stranger danger" to justify keeping an eye on them. As much as you hate to think about it, there are creeps out there -\ the police referred to an "Active paedophile ring" in the William Tyrell case. It may be a one in million chance, but imagine if it was your child who was taken? Its really sad that they don't have the same freedom we did, but I think parent's fears are understandable.
"1-in-1.4 million-years chance of being abducted and murdered by a stranger"...
So what are the odds of simply being abducted, molested, sexually abuse etc etc
Just because the stat's are so low for a worse case scenario, doesn't mean there's not a whole lot of bad crap that can happened to them.
My 6 year old girl starts first grade this year in August (Germany). She'll be walking alone (with other kids), the school is only about 500mtrs away, but she'll be carrying a tracking device (GPS tracker, Iphone, or something along those lines).
I've been called over protective before but lets face it, if it only happens to 1:1.4 mil , you still don't want it to be yours and I sure as hell never want to be in the situation that I'm thinking 'What if' ......
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