I feel the same way too there should be a middle ground my parents they weren't helicopter parents and they didn't do free range they were protective but also let me explore too. I had to come in whenever the street lights came on. And if I didn't I got grounded by being told I can't go outside talk about that was devastating to me it's not being able to go outside I don't want to be inside.
+Jessica Daugherty, we are similar. I want the kids to learn to make their own choices. Ours walks to school and is free to play: if HW is done, if chores are all done, and so on... They also have a cell phone, so they text to let us know they are here or there, so we know school is out but they are taking a detour. The other day they did no such text and disappeared(forgot to take their phone that day), OH THEY WERE BEYOND GROUNDED: no tv, no electronics.... IMO this is the hardest part of raising kids: yes we could sit on them and lock them in the house, and always know where they are and what they are doing. But they won't learn to adult that way, and honestly, our neighborhood is pretty good about community keeping an eye on the kids...
TheShowThatSUX oh well...I guess it is good you are lucky enough (and have the finances) to live in such a neighborhood...many people are not so lucky!
Anyone else ever lived in Japan? Kids as young as 4 will walk to school or the park alone even if they're like 2 miles away. This is literally nothing compared to what i've seen.
Lost Honor There are but they aren't stupid enough to try the same shit pedophiles in America do. Being part of the pack is huge there and if you are arrested you can say goodbye to the rest of your life. Their prisons are also incredibly abusive and inhumane as well. Most wouldn't be stupid enough to risk that kind of punishment for the .1% chance of raping a 5 year old one time before immediately being caught. Instead they let it out by making lolicon hentai. Americans on the other hand favor and even praise corruption and child abuse so pedophiles and abusers can have a field day here, but we like to pretend that's not the case because we're supposedly a "first world country".
+Euina, Japan also has VERY VERY quick Police response and different laws. So that is not an ideal argument. However, we have reached the point in the USA where it is more likely DCF will take a kid than an abductor, and that is a problem. What this story tells me is I need an attorney on retainer, and to give my kids a card to give the cops when they overreact. BASICALLY, I AM HERE UNDER PARIETAL AUTHORITY WITHIN THE LAW; IF YOU OBJECT THIS IS OUR ATTORNEY AND HOW YOU GET MOM AND DAD. If they fail to call me or our legal appointed representative I WILL HAVE THE COP'S BADGE.
That's because it's Japan. The pedophilia attack rate and crime rate is much lower overall. The police are 10x better, and kids are correctly taught about street responsibility.
I raised free-range kids, back during a time when there was not a name for it. The point is to teach your kids to be vigilant when it comes to strangers, and to not be alone....always buddy up. They both had bikes and would ride their bikes all over town. Both are independent grown men today. My oldest is 30 and youngest will be 23.
No, not by pure chance. By good parenting, you can teach your kids about danger and how to steer clear from strangers. I raised my boys, how I was brought up. It was a different world then...much different. If I was to do it all over again in current times, I would reconsider.
What in the world I feel bad or the mother who went for prison just because she needed to leave her daughter in a park to work her shift to feed that child.
Scarlet hire a sitter have the bus take them home it's laziness this women belongs in jail when her kids go missing while walking home maybe she'll rethink what's more important working or having your kid get from point a to point b safely.not to mention plenty of parents do both just fine might take some extra work but welcome to Parenthood it's not easy nothing about free range kids is ok it just LAZYNESS AT ITS BEST.
Riss728 wow are you kidding me you are quite comical l do you know that when my mother would hire babysitters they would end up being abusive and the cops would do nothing about it and taking the bus not every bus is going to be at someone's beck and call. It looks like they might live in the city so you're suggesting that they should take the city bus which could be worse for children. Whenever I was a kid I went all over the place I explored and guess what I need to joining the military and I turned out just fine. And so what you're saying is is that just because it's not your parenting style it's wrong. Not everybody wants to be a helicopter to their children. They want their kids to explore not live in their basement.
@Riss728 you are so disgustingly ignorant. I hope God shows you how horrible conditions can get in life then you’ll understand what it means to do what you have to do.
riikerman But this isn’t a world where people prey on children. As has always been, there are a few bad among the people out there. And the incidence of attacks /abductions are rare. And common sense measures can reduce that risk even more.
@@annabelgrace1267 NO YOU CAN’T because it’s an entire MINDSET that Stunts kids growth and leads to the snowflake safe space demanding weak college students we see today
@@brutustantheiii8477 No, you can. I did. Everything was age appropriate. My kids still did not go out by themselves, until they hit their teens, but by then, they knew how to be and what to do, because they were shown early, taught early. They were allowed to try things. At home, they were taught to spoon feed themselves, for example, as early as possible. They were not allowed to go on their own to the store, because we lived near a highway. They could go with their friends, as pre teens, around 11 or so. Also, as a group, chances of being kidnapped, are greatly reduced.
When I was 9 and my sister was 6 we walked a mile to the playground almost every day. It's not something that should be considered neglect, it's just normal
Same thing here Natalie yet.. Somer Thompson was murdered just walking home from school in Florida with her older brother & sister running ahead less than one mile! It's a different Evil World we live in so that's not cool to allow a Sexual Predator/killer even a speeding car to harm an innocent child. The state won't get SUED when something bad happens. My take. Nothing "normal" 'bout "Free Range children".
And did you live in a heavily urbanized area like these kids? It's NOT normal for a 6 year old to be out unsupervised by a parent, only a 9 year old. Your parents were fucked up.
Sigh... America. I mean... do you guys realise that this is childhood ANYWHERE else in the world? When I was little I would walk home from school. I was 7 or 8 years old and I would walk over 3 kilometers home, and that's not uncommon. I would usually walk with other kids from my neighbourhood, but sometimes alone. My niece is now 7, she walks more than a kilometer home alone or with other kids. I remember being 17 years old and I went to the US as an exchange student. I lived a 15 minute drive from school, but it took me over an hour to get there because the bus had to stop outside every kid's house to pick them up. What about bus stops? We would have saved so much time! No wonder so many kids were fat, they never walked anywhere. They just sat in the school bus eating chips for breakfast.
I never feel scared out on my own. I often travel to London a lot on my own. Of course, as a woman, I would never walk into a dark alley late at night, but I don't feel scared being out alone even when it's late.
Maybe not for you. I am Norwegian and I grew up this way, so did my friends. I also have Swedish and Danish friends who grew up walking around outside by themselves. I am not saying that every single family does things the same way, but it is defiantly not uncommon for Scandinavian children to be allowed to be outside alone.
you norwegians, swedes, danish people, us finns... people from these four countries must laugh their asses of at this free range parenting "shocker" USA seems to view it as.
What is wrong with ppl today? It's not free-range, it's parenting! That was normal and now ppl are so neurotic. 100 years ago kids worked in factories, now THAT, that was bad. Calling 911 because you see kids playing is sad. Kids used to roam the streets, on skates, bikes, wagons, skateboards and now you never see kids because they are in the house playing video games. I think letting your kid stay inside with their eyes glued to a screen is NEGLECT.
You sound like a good parent, locking kids up for your own comfort is neglect yes you are right about that. I wished more people could see that over parenting is a worser form of neglect.
I agree that keeping children glued to a screen is just a bad. Everything has its limits. My son is 5 and the world today is a terryfing place unfortunately. I wouldnt let him go out on his own because on the off chance something did happen i would feel terrible. Why is so difficult for parents to take their children outside? My son has two recesses a day at school. When he gets off the buss he gets one hour (sometimes more) to blow off steam and after dinner as well and im with him the entire time. My house still gets clean dinner still gets cooked work still gets done. On the weekends im outside with him somedays from 8am to 6pm only coming in to eat and use the bathroom. Its not hard for children to gey ample outside time while still being supervised!
I gue$$ you don't watch the news much huh? Somer Thompson from Florida look up that Tragic case just walking home one mile with her older brother & sister then ends up in a Georgia Landfill. Too bad the parents are doing their best to ensure the safety of their kids by supervising 'em in this Evil World which is a fairy tail to you! Nothing wrong with the parent heading to the school or park to make sure their kids are SAFE from Sexual Predators/killers. I
Yeah, I don't really see a problem with a 6 and 10 year old walking a mile away to a playground. Especially since it seems like they know what they're doing, like the 10 year old is holding his little sister's hand.
If someone came up to them and tried to take one or the other they would be scared for life with Guilt how would someone that young stop that from happening?/How to stop it have a parent with, or another trusted adult .Parents need to be involved now a days.
It's a sick world when people justify the government taking other people's children from their home and traumatically placing them in a parent-less system where they are more likely to be hurt in every way imaginable. Over-reaching much? There are methods we might not agree with but to even suggest displacing children out of paranoia is disturbed.
A lot of kids in Japan are sent to school at 6 years of age using the bus or train on their own. So much farther than these kids go, and going alone in much bigger cities.
True, however Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. If you drop money people will chase you down to give it back to you. It would be nice if America had that mentality in the vast majority.
A Google User it's not quite THAT simple. It's not like it isn't frowned upon. It certainly isn't "accepted" and women aren't just expected to be okay with it. Women can stand up for themselves and can report it. The difference is, here it's seen as a much bigger deal than there. While as here it an unwelcome grope is seen as almost rape, in Japan it's more like an innapripriate nuisance committed by perverts. Perverts exist...therefore this unfortunate event may occur. Here in the US it's the end of the world if a guy looks at a woman the wrong way. There are signs everywhere in Japanese subways and train stations prohibiting such behavior. It's simply a difference of cultures.
These parents totally have the right idea. i grew up that way, i bought my kids up the same way, within reason. parents are over protective these days, and wrap the kids in cottonwool. if wrapped so tightly, they will not learn responsiblity. Or how to navigate life on their own. You have to give kids some freedom!!
Suey, my friends and i always played on our own, when we were young. just had to have homework done during the school year, & be in for dinner in the summertime. as long as we were home by dark, no one was concerned. it was fun. and i would never call my parents "neglectful."
Suey well we certainly see what the kids being raised by people who have a problem with the way the couple on this video raise their children are turning out like...take a glance at millennials in general...most are clueless about being grown ups and the real world!!
Parents should have the right to raise their children how they want, unless they have harm done to them. If people try to set laws against it, all you're doing is giving the government more power to control us and tell us how to do things.
The nosey neighbors need to mind their own buisness. Calling the police or interacting with someone else's kids is not their job. It's not the polices job to intercept two children making THEIR OWN childhood memories. Thsts just traumatic. There are always risks when raising children,these parents are choosing, what they believe to be, the best path for their family. Leave them alone.
In most kidnapping or child abuse cases it's the parents/family member or someone they know! It's most likely your kid's gymnastic teacher, pastor, uncle, friend's father or.. your new boyfriend. It's a fact :( These kids know what to do, their parents taught them well. They seem like confident, independent, mindful,happy kids. This is how kids in Europe live and in many other parts of the world.
@Jim Elliott don´t be idiotic, Madeline was freaking 3, not 7 or 8. A 3 years old need babysitter. They can´t develop independence until at the age of 5
Uuuh... My mom just said "dinner will be at six" and we (my brother and I) just went out to play. We listened to her and she trusted us to be safe. With guidance of how to act around cars, strangers, weather etc.
I'm 23 now. When I was younger my mom let me ride my bike up and down the street and around the block. I was allowed to walk to the park up the street and my near by friends house, but it was a 5 minute walk. the golden rule was to be home before the sun went down, or when my mom said to be home. of course i always pushed the boundaries and went further than she thought I went but also I had a few scary things happen like guys driving up to me and asking me to get in their cars or stuff like that. As long as your child is mature and knows the area, I'd say around 10 is an ok time to wander close in the neighborhood. a mile away is a bit far though, especially alone. Like i said, I was approached my creepy men when I was young, if one had actually snatched me, I'd totally be unable to fend them off at a young age. It makes me ervous that she has a 10 year old watching a 6 year old out and about.
BabeDollB Well but at 6 youre not mature enough or able to fend for yourself walking around in the town. If parents let you do that its called bad parenting
At 26, you're not mature enough or able to fend for yourself against numerous attackers with weapons. Nor can you defend your children who are with you. The crime rate is down, but there are no guarantees - at any age! At 6, a child can know the way to school, to friends' houses, and so forth. At 11, I was taking a city bus to school several miles away. This was by design, from the school district and my parents. Now.... that wouldn't happen.
My sister and I were almost kidnapped. I was 12 and she was 10. We were on our way home from school. They did catch the two men in the van they tried to pull my sister into the very next day at a bus stop not far from where it happened. It was horrible we had counseling for PTSD and nightmares for a long time. I would never leave my kids so unprotected at such a young age. Some predator could easily see these kids alone too often and make a move. These people acting like it's a joke is so scary.
I didn't say that it NEVER happens. I'm sorry that such an attempt was made on you and your sister. It's just that abductions by strangers are very rare. If such would-be kidnappers are serious enough about wanting to kidnap (your) children, you as an adult will not be able to stop them.
I was in 1st grade and was allowed to ride my bike pretty much anywhere. It was the 1980’s and I grew up in a small tiny little town. Still, what a GREAT childhood I had. The freedom to choose, troubleshoot my own problems as a child, helped mold me into a business owning woman.
I grew up in the 80's as well. Lived in a very small town and walked home from school at age 8 and stayed home alone until my mom came home from work each evening. Everybody always thinks things were so much safer back then. Maybe compared to today, overall, yes...but I was still assaulted by a child predator at a park and both of my parents were at the park with me nearby. My dad coached a softball team that my mother was on and all the kids of the team members played on the playground when they'd have their games. It just goes to show you can't be too careful. Danger is literally everywhere.
Lisa Edwards um yes they were. Give me a break. The media makes everything seem so dangerous. Lol! It’s sad that people believe everything they see on TV. Crimes against children have been happening since the beginning of time. It didn’t just start in the last 30yrs. Raise your children to be independent, it’s the absolutely best thing you can teach your kids.
I agree Katie, I was born in 77', loved the 80's, me and my younger sister had an awesome childhood, I would go ride my bmx bike at the track about a mile or so from the house, my sis would go run to her friends house, we knew when it started to get dark we had to head home. Man, the awesome adventures I had lol, I had an over active imagination as a kid so I was always off somewhere, but my parents knew where I was, kids these days have " clutchy " parents and it's no wonder you see YT vids of kids these days ding stupid stuff, or they can't even d the simplest of things, like cook, clean, mow the yard, hell they can't even change a flat tire without having t use " Google " or some shit lmao
Googlesux Bigtime same here, I was getting buses to meet up with friends and go to the beach or ice skating. I was always grown up for my age and by age 11 my mum was fine with me going whether I wanted.
Free range kids are targets for predators. Free risk parents have been warned. When their unsupervised kids become victims, what are the parents going to do?? Call the police!! Oops, too late and where are the kids?? Are they safe?? Will they come home safely?? Most kids don't. Free range parents are "educated" and believe we live in a safe world. I pray for kids' safety everyday and for their parents to have enough wisdom to be responsible for these young lives. Basically, free range parents don't give a rip about their kids or what happens to them, til it's too late.
The children are about as likely to be raped, brutalized, abused, or killed in their own homes as they are on the street. They may be abducted even with a parent with them - the parent may be abducted too. The world is an unsafe place.
The biggest lie the devil ever told was that he didn't exist... We are living in the last days according to the books of Revelation & Daniel in the BIBLE. Times are different than when I was growing up... I'm a child of the 70's...and we walked to the public swimming pool by ourselves all the time... BUT I do remember taking shortcuts & being bothered by men. All I can say is GOD plz protect the children...
What the hell is this even a problem? Kid are neither pets nor prisoners.They should be allowed to go out when they want to play outside as long as it is not dark out.
Unfinished Cheesecake they could always being easily kidnapped. Right beside you they could easily be kidnapped. Its better to teach them how to respond to strangers, and to teach them how to be more independent. You could be kidnapped as pretty easily as an adult as well. I do think school should be taken seriously but walking to the park or the store? Come on now!
No. The crime rate has been going down steadily since about 1990. It's just that we have this 24 hour news cycle, so we hear about a lot more. In 1950, these things were "just not talked about". They happened. It still does. Statistically, they're far more likely to be abused by a family friend or activity leader or family member than grabbed by a stranger on the street - which is quite rare.
I parented this way. My son loved to climb to the top of 30 foot trees. Neighbors called the police. No charges were filed. Now almost 40 years old he still spends the majority of his time outdoors. He has excellent references from his employers because he is a hard worker and never complains. I encouraged him to get a physical job. He became a tree trimmer, hard wood floor installer, construction worker and large window installer. He works to perfection and enjoys his job and life.
I understand why people would react this way because its no longer safe. If the kids went missing..... its another story. But they can be "free range" in other ways.
Parents are allowed to raise their child however they want...but also need to be aware that our surroundings are not safe as they used to be...dangers...getting hit by a car...molested...kidnapped...raped etc...also the kids look pretty young...there are sick ppl out there...just bothers me how some parents are so irresponsible and when an accident happens they look for an excuse to blame it on someone..when they should have supervised their child to begin with...maybe look for another adult to take them to the park if you can't...for their safety accidents happen.
oohlalapaola they where responsible they said that they trained there kids. so many kids go to parks and stores by themselves, it happens so often and no one gets hurt. i didnt get hurt. 10 is not pretty young eather
Actually your information is incorrect. All of the crimes you mentioned have gone down not up. It is safer now than it used to be. That was do to teaching kids in the past. This latest group of kids growing up now, with their helicopter parents is predicted to be the most narsocystic generation ever. They are growing up almost incapable of doing anything by themselves. They are unable to accept rejection or losing because "everyone's a winner, and everyone is perfect. " This next generation be raised by these helicopter conservacunt parents is terrifying.
When I was a child and a young adult, we called these helicopter parents of today "overprotective mothers". They were usually neurotic, and their children often had poor outcomes - were also afraid/neurotic/medicated, or they rebelled completely and were gang members or runaways as teens.
I'm 29 my father is in his seventies I was definitely raised in the old school fashion where all the kids would be outside by themselves riding bikes up and down the block you were allowed to go within a certain perimeter and you had to be home by sundown to me this is normal parenting however given my situation with my daughter now I want to allow my daughter to go wandering or playing anywhere by herself. in a group id say okay if she was just down the street, but I have different circumstance I think everyone should be able to choose what's right for them!
I think a lot of this comes down to care and effort of behalf of the parents. This couple have made a conscious choice to let their children have a bit more freedom and talked about a phased approach with it. The children seem happy, well adjusted and are clearly loved. It’s not as though the parents have left their kids home alone or wandering around for hours whilst they get high. I think a little perspective may be needed here.
This case is insane!! XD "Free Range"?!! isn't that just normal parenting without freaking helicopter parents?!! What kid can't walk a block to the park by themself?!! I mean their were just as many pedophiles 50 years ago as their are today, so why are parenting rules different?! Parents who are to hovery end up raising spoiled kids who literally cannot do the simplest things. I have a friend with helicopter parents, she doesn't even know how to do her own laundry and her mom cleans her room! SERIOUSLY?!!
We didn't have 24 hour international news in the 1970s. We didn't have "Amber Alerts" where you heard of every missing child in the nation, within minutes of that child going missing. The crime rate has been going down steadily since 1990.
in the 70's 80's and 90s..... THIS WAS NORMAL !!!!! Wtf is wrong with people these days where they think they have ANY say in how parents choose to let their children learn the world around them.... Sheltered kids are the ones who end up failing in society.... always falling back on mommy and daddy to bail them out everytime they see trouble or something they don't understand....
Czo Lish the crime rate in 1986 was 5.5%. The crime rate in 2016 was 2.84%. Statistics provided by disastercenter.com
6 лет назад
No, it is true. Far safer. Much much much safer. You are simply brainwashed by the media. Join the world! The water is nice and warm? Your way of thinking has given us the horrible child abuse called obesity. Fat kids and fat adults because YOU are too lazy to be a good parent. I can safely assume you are 30 pounds or more overweight as are your kids. Thanks MOM!
I always think about Japan when I see stories like this. Japan's culture encourages independence and not being so needy of your parents and instead relying on yourself.
My daughter made money when she went to college teaching other kids to do chores and navigate the real world. Our children grew up free range but tons of responsibility. 4 great adults.
It all depends on where you live. I'm from Hawaii and the place i grew up was safe. My parents let me walk to school on my own since the age of 8. Well okay i guess its because my school was literally right around the corner from me. But i was allowed to ride my bike, go out with friends and go to the park on my own without a bother. i always knew my boundaries and knew to go home before it got dark and not to talk to anyone i don't know. I think the furtherest i ever went as a child on my own was a park that was a 10 to 15 minute walk. My parents had trust in me. I knew to stop in and tell my mom if would be out for a bit longer and if it was dark i stayed close to home with 4 or more friends. But i guess they're more kidnappers and more children going missing these days.
I was raised in the 50s when that sort of thing was more common. It is much too dangerous today. Plus letting children make health decisions etc. without life experience is irresponsible
I grew up this way, but, times were slower, everyone in our neighborhood looked out for the kids and knew your parents or where you lived. There wasn't the craziness we have to day. Adults aren't safe a mile from home let alone a 10 and 6 yr old. I applaud your trust in your fellow man.
Here's another modern buzzword akin to "free-range" - "helicopter parenting". Overprotective parents who watch their children like a hawk are the ones who get children who violently rebel as teens, or the parents who get needy adults wanting to live in the basement with no direction in life. No financial skills, no personal hygiene skills, no basic safety skills or understanding of simple neighbourhood navigation... it's quite disgusting. -_-
Another buzzword from the 1960s or 1970s is "overprotective parenting". It was viewed as pathological, often with the overprotective parent having neurotic anxiety issues pushed off on the kids. It rarely came out well. It won't for huge numbers of today's children.
There seems to be an ever-growing fear among parents today that if they don't watch their kids 24/7, something bad will happen. Granted kids should be taught not to talk to strangers and where to report if they've been abused or molested and all that, but today's parents won't even let their thirteen-year-olds go to school without a cell phone these days, "in case something happens and I need to call them". When I was a kid, as you grew up you learned how to cope without having your mommy holding your hand all through childhood. That was only the early 2000's too, so it's surprising how fearful parents have become in that time span.
What these parents don't seem to notice is that bad things will happen. That's part of life. The challenge is to teach them reasonable things for self-preservation, as are age appropriate, and what to do WHEN something bad happens. When I was a kid, there were no such things as cell phones. You were out of communication with your Mommy and Daddy for the duration. If your parents NEEDED you for some reason, they'd come, tell the school why, and pull you out of school. Or, if you had to be notified of something that had happened. I saw very fearful parents in the early 2000s, and it appears to be getting worse. It's bordering on paranoia - of parents who believe that EVERYONE out there is trying to "get at" their kid in particular - with designs for pedophilia or child porn. I'll agree those are bad things, but MOST people find those things revolting and support ways to stop them and put those doing them in prison. There are many other crimes. Meanwhile, these same fearful parents who are terrified that "something might happen" if the child were sent outside, keep the child indoors. In addition to depression and loneliness - those were the same things used to punish us in the 1960s and 1970s, the child becomes obese - which is made worse by various antidepressants. Now, it is known that obesity has lifelong ill-effects, and many of the psych meds they're handing out to little children shorten life expectancy too. Lack of socialization/social skills for a child also has a bad effect for the rest of someone's life. They appear to be exchanging "something might happen" for "We're causing something irreversible to happen".
I agree completely. I think part of the fear among parents comes from the fearmongering in the media. Ironically crime rates have gone down in recent years, but turn on the news and the anchormen are raving about everything from child porn dungeons to drug dealers. Crimes like this do happen and it's terrible, but parents aren't doing their kids any favors by isolating them and not teaching them any safety or social skills, and then just sending them off to university or work when they've been completely sheltered their whole lives. I also think it's really ridiculous to give a little kid a cell phone, not to mention somewhat hypocritical because there are predators online now way more than in the street or at the park. I remember in 2001, 9/11 happened and I think that really terrified North America (understandably so), but suddenly there wasn't just a fear of terrorism, there was a fear of everything that might possibly shatter peoples' idyllic American dream lifestyles, and the whole country has really had a lot of trouble learning to move past this ordeal. The school shootings at Columbine High School and Sandy Hook also seemed to scare adults into taking away everything that people used to enjoy as kids. A lot of parents refuse to let their kids go trick-or-treating anymore, even with parental supervision, because of the good ol' razor blade in the apple rumors that started up in the 80's. A lot of parents now just let their kids watch Netflix and they buy them a bunch of candy instead of letting them experience something fun and real. And god forbid any parent let a child play in the woods, even though I've been hiking alone in the woods since I was six and nothing ever happened because I was taught to stay safe and avoid dangers. It's sad that nowadays so many kids are spending the few years of childhood they have in life just sitting on the sofa in front of a video game just because their parents are too scared to let their kids be kids.
Where I live, if you live 1 mile or less from the school your kids have to walk to school. Even 5 yr olds. I thought that was crazy myself, even though we live in a small town. Myself, I climbed the pool fence at 4 at our local resort when no one was there. It was a miracle I didn't drown.
Personally I would wait until my children were a little older before I let them walk a mile to the park in a busy city like that. When I was 12 my dad let me take by 8 year old sister on walks all around, toy shop, ice cream, etc. I think that's a better age for that kind of freedom.
And now that they’ve done a story about them showing all of their faces, all of the child molesters will be flocking to try to pick up their kids. Way to go mom and dad
People keep saying "well I was raised to go where ever alone, I wanted and I'm fine"Its like people think because nothing happened to them, that it doesn't happen. What about the kids that did have something happen to them? What about the kids who were kidnapped or killed or raped? sorry, they are not on RU-vid or around to tell you about the horrors they endured. I'm sure they would have loved to have grown up without any harm and to be able to say "I am fine," "nothing ever happened to me" or "I survived". So just because you grew up fine , don't assume everyone else did too.
Jana Herde Success I'm pretty sure it happened a lot more frequently back then because there were a lot more unsupervised children walking around back then. These days most parents know how to use their brains (or just actually give a crap about their kids) and try to protect their children as much as possible from predators. Clearly parents started being more protective over their children because there was a need to. There are just as many perverts and pedophiles in the world today as there have ever been, there just aren't as many children on the loose as there were 50 years ago because parents started to realize that supervising their kids was a safer alternative than the 50/50 chance of their kid returning home in the evenings. Even though we don't hear about those horrible types of crimes as frequently, they still happen. All it takes is the right sicko with an opportunity.
Nicola Wildflower Nicole, THANK YOU!!! You are so right, thank you for explaining it. People just don't listen and try to justify their careless parenting. It's irresponsible. Kids can't raise themselves they need you. Not all the time hoovering over them but making sure they are safe and if that means going with them to the park or walking them to and from school, so be it. Again you don't have to "helicopter" you can give them space but know the time and the place, parenting takes work and if your not willing to put the work in then maybe you should have thought twice about being a parent!
Jana Herde Success no one said anything about monitoring your kids 24/7. You immediately assume because a parent shows even the slightest bit of concern for their child's safety, that they are hoovering or a helicopter parent. Which is simply not true. My kids play in the back yard on their own, and they play outside alot. I just make sure they aren't running the streets or at the park on their own. And as for driving a 13 year old to a playdate, pretty sure 13 year olds don't have "playdates". (Play dates are for young children not teenagers) but we are talking about children, young children. Kids under 12 should not be roaming the streets. I'm not saying teens should be either, but that's were your parenting comes in, you set rules (curfew ect) .
Jana Herde Success and lastly, parents aren't paranoid, they are now more cautious because we know now of the dangers. Again my siblings and I all fell victim to predictors while out on our own. We know now the Grimm details of the murders and rapes that happened in the past. And as a parent your first instinct should be to want to protect your child, not risk it for the sake of them "learning how the streets work". We live in a civilized society this isn't friggin Sparta hahaha you want them to learn, TEACH THEM, I know that requires spending time with them, and apparently that's considered monitoring (wtf really?) But give it a shot. It's not hard, and if it is, then I said it before and I shall say it again, you should have thought twice about having kids.
I’m 34 and medically can’t have kids... but this is how I was raised, street lights came on, you went home etc... the world isn’t a scarier place now, more things have been put in place so that it’s more available. I’m a free range child and damn proud of it
There's just no way I would've allowed my daughter to walk a mile to a park by herself at age 6. There's just certain standards of safety I feel compelled to meet as a mom who loves her kids.
the question is always...whos needs are being meet...the parents need for either the quelling of thier own anxiety vs the childs need for developement of autonomy...with of course the environment having been reasonably assessed...we must prepare the child for the road not the road for the child...
I am for the parents all the way! My mom used to let me go to the beach by myself with my dog at the age of 4 and 5 years old and stay there all day long and then come home three blocks away with my dog! I could roam all over the place! I learned to survive on the streets! It made me a more aware of my surroundings and a better understanding of how others humans behave! Yes I had some close calls but without learning how to survive from the beginning I may not have been able to survive on bad time encounters! I believe I'm a better person today because of the freedoms my mother and father allowed me to have! Thank God I never got wrapped up in drugs! Thank God I had parents that educated me and steered me in the right direction allowing me to also have my freedoms! They allowed and taught me to be independent! Thank you my spiritual mom and dad!
yes I walk all over the place. i was also molest and almost pick up by a stranger. That was between the 1960 and 1970. What if your child is kidnap or hit by a car. You can train your child all you want but things happen. What if your at work, your children can get into all kind of trouble. Helicopter mom maybe i was a little but it is called having rules. Your have to follow rules all your life. My children are doing great. No problems. Just healthy sercure children. You can close your eyes and pretend your children will be okay but your not protecting your children.
Kids get abducted right out of their own yards. I cannot believe someone called 911 because 2 kids were "walking around on their own for 20 minutes." When I was a kid, our parents used to drop us off in the toy section of a store and leave us there to entertain ourselves while they went off shopping for hours. My friends and I ran all over the neighborhood on our own almost every single day. My bus stop was a mile away from my house, I had to walk to and from the bus stop, often by myself, every single school day. It seems ludicrous to me that this is considered "child abuse" when there are very real child abuse cases of parents beating their kids, and people are upset because these happy "free range" kids are walking to the park.
They have a lot of faith in society, don't they? 10 managing a 6 year old? I think it's too young. My brother went to school by himself by age 11, so did I. Many kids in the UK who go to school to and fro in secondary school often have to make the journey by themselves. I used to travel for an hour by myself. But there's no way I would be allowed to basically care for a younger sibling at that age. I understand the whole point about being independent, but seriously the world isn't a forgiving place. Maybe it's my country but especially where I'm growing up, it's dangerous for kids to be walking around by themselves, loads of gangs. Oh well.
emily yeap, great parenting :/ I am sorry, I dont know where this people live, but the world had many dangers and I wouldnt let my children out like that, childrens brains are not fully developed, kids act goofy and do not pay attention to danger, may run out in the street after a ball, someone can abduct them etc. Yes I was a free range kid in a different time where dangers were not as todays. Would never
So if children's brains can't handle the world, why are children able to run businesses? To take care of themselves in 3rd world countries with long walks to school and potential risks about? Children can drive tractors, cars, use machinery when shown by an adult how to do so safely and effectively, even in the US in rural areas it's common for kids to be able to competently take care of themselves in sometimes harsh environments. Using your logic, every native kid on the planet would have zero hope of growing up because they're too busy being distracted to pay attention to their environment. It's all nothing but cultural myth, this constant story of the inability of children to be clever and competent.
"id look them up today and murder them and their families "You are an example of why kids shouldn't be left outside unsupervised I see no one decided to shed some light on this guy. You are ignoring his disturbing comment, yes its a comment but what kind of person even says a thing like that? News flash he's not the only person who talks or thinks this way. so " free rangers", would you let your kid walk down the street next to a person who threatens to murder families?
Hang in a minute she's afraid that the police will take them away but she's not worried about any other dangers such as them crossing the road or predators! This woman is nuts, she even goes on to say well since the police picked them up they now have a cell phone, shouldn't they have had one anyway?!? And wasn't she worried when the police had them for 5 fkn hours! These parents should be sterilised this makes me so fkn angry! Why have kids if you can't be bothered to get off your ass and take them to the park, that's part of parenting and should be something to share in your kids lives they're not children for long so why make them grow up any faster than they need to! Pure stupidity I really hope they get their kids taken off them and they are given to a family who actually wants to spend time with them and actually can be bothered to look after them!
This is sad, how can a ten year not be able to walk a mile away from home? This makes me so angry. I grew up in the 90s and I remember riding my bike to the gas station with my 9 year old brother when I was 8 years old. It was at least 2 miles away.
I am in my mid 30's. Growing up in a small fishing village I could go outside and play wherever I wanted so long as I was home by a certain time. No one batted an eye to this concept because everyone elses kids had the same guidelines. It is awful now that these kids fear the police. I was taught as kid that cops were the people you go to if you were in trouble. Now that I think about it, cops were more friendlier back in the day too! We had a mountie who would patrol our community every weekend... once in a while he would stop just to say hello. I don't think the cop in this story did what he did because he wanted to... I bet he knew that the complaint was absurd, but if he did not do anything, he'd most likely would have faced discipline of some kind... so really what option did he have?
Anything could happen....there's a BIG DIFFERENCE between keeping an eye on your kids and smothering them. Try not being lazy and walk them to the park and back because this is not the 50s....its a dangerous world. And this is real life not a t.v. show.
Melinda Earl-Roop it wasnt like oh sure go. It was process and teaching them how to cross streets, directions safety. If your kids are to stupid to understand I understand why you would see it a problem with your stupid kids
The 50s were worst,it was not the innocent age everyone now thinks it was.Child molestation and abuse wasnt openly talked about so creeps got away with it a lot more
"Oh no! I need to hide"... that statement from the older child spoke volumes to me... she has a fear the police will keep her and her sister away from their parents
I can't believe people in the comments saying well I was raised this way, more then likely yes you were but the world was a different place back then, I was the same I used to go all over with my friends but I wouldn't dream of letting my kids do what I did, just look at the news or watch an episode of to catch a predator! I'd rather be over protective and have safe kids than letting them go wherever they like on their own and suffer the rest of my life with guilt because someone abducts and murders them!
I agree with the parents. My older brother and I are a year apart, but my parents always let him go out wherever he liked as soon as he was 8. Because I was a girl, they only let me go to the bookstore on my way home after school. Once I was 16 and finally allowed to go places and my curfew was extended to 8pm, I was much too scared to take the bus alone for fear I would end up stranded near the projects and it was REALLY hard to feel comfortable walking without supervision, so much so that I sometimes just avoided going outside. Kids should be allowed to roam a little on their own, but within reason of course.
My father was a hover parents. I am 24 years old I have working at my current job for over two years, and I know how to money manage. I can take care of myself and that was because I had a hover parent. Not every child is going to turn out like that because they have a hover parent.
In my city, the kids who live a mile or less from home do not have access to the school bus. They walk to and from school. All of them. Every day. How dangerous.
While this is a beautiful idea, unfortunately the times we're living in just aren't safe enough to do that. No one says chain your kids to a radiator but this is irresponsible.
Well Spoken! DCF don't want to get SUED when these kids come on the News after they VANISH from a public street with Pedo bears/killers out there. Darwin's Theory is not just a theory!
Statistically, the crime rate is MUCH LOWER now than it was 20 years ago, or at any time since the 1950s. Back then, we didn't have 24-hour news cycles, instant international news. Moreover, when "something happened" to a child, it was "just not talked about". The perception was that it didn't happen. The reality was that the pedos and child pornographers were your friends and neighbors. It's statistically VERY UNLIKELY that someone will just grab a random child off the street. "Grooming" the child is part of the fun and games for the criminals.
Tell that to my brother who was pulled into a car when he was just 8 years old. You have no idea how Pedos or criminals work, they are disturbed, unpredictable and dangerous.
Headcynic "Grooming". EXACTLY. Children are often groomed by family members, friends of family members, coaches, preachers, or neighbors, usually over long periods of time. But nobody wants to think about their Aunt Martha raping little cousin Sally or their dad raping their step brother. So they just defend, enable, or ignore it instead and project their gross family issues onto the rest of the world, claiming that it's everybody else that's the pedophile.
When I turned 11.. my parents let me roam the neighborhood. They waited for me to get old enough to understand danger, traffic etc.. and big enough to fight back. Half the time I had one of our German shepherds with me but nonetheless... I always told them where I was going. Thing is though... It depends on the child AND location. Some children mature faster. Some don't. And some areas are not as safe as others. A quiet neighborhood is probably safer than a very busy area. It's just common sense. But I don't think the parents in this video should be letting the 6 + 10 year olds walk alone in such a busy area.
The next news footage " OMG help us our children are missing, they only went to the park by THEMSELVES!!!!!...REALLY..THE WORLD IS NOT SAFE NOW...give me a break.
I was born in '71. In my first neighborhood, all the kids were free range. We had a blast roaming our block, playing hide n' seek, tag, skating, marbles, sledding (though there were always SAHMs keeping an eye out the kitchen windows). And this was in Brooklyn, not a small town where all residents knew each other. I rode the bus home from school, but by the time I was ten and living in a different state, I walked home and was a latchkey kid. The world IS very different now, but if lawmakers are going to insist that ten-year-olds be supervised, they need to secure after-school programs. It isn't fair to penalize single parents. And every child is different. I was an only child, and the sort of kid you could trust not to cause a stove fire or open the door to strangers. We kids received the usual warnings about not accepting rides, and walking with friends whenever possible, and it saddens me to know that things have changed since then and the helicopter parents are instilling fear in the hearts of so many. I married later in life, but my husband had the same level of free-range upbringing and agrees it's a shame things have changed so much. Would I be comfortable allowing my ten-year-old to walk home from school or to the park unsupervised? Were there fewer crimes against children back then, or is there just more awareness about it now?
A mile really isn’t that far, i just googled and my childhood home is literally a mile from my primary school which I used to walk to by myself all the time! Honestly this isn’t “Free Range”, this is just traditional parenting.
They fail to know the true meaning of neglect. Neglect is not not being around your children 24/7. Neglect is when the kids need u but u ignore them. Seems to me like she gives them attention when they need it so NOT neglect
Miriam Schiro Exactly. These children are clearly well bonded to each other, parents, and fully confident and articulate with the interviewer, etc - all signs of an extremely well developed, well nurtured child. I think people see unattached children so often these days they don't know what healthy attachment looks like!!
Taught by my older brother of 9 years in an urban/suburban city (in Massachusetts), I used to regularly walk alone thereafter to a corner store for penny candy at 5 to 7 years old, and later to more distant department stores with a same-aged friend at 7-9 years old and sometimes alone. We'd also walk to a similarly distanced public library. We followed the rules parents and schools warned us - look both ways before crossing streets and don't get into cars with strangers, even if they entice with candy or puppies. As a sixth grader (11-12 years), our school sanctioned our selling candy around the neighborhoods to raise money for end-of-year week camp. We were instructed never to enter anyone's house, even if invited, and not to open the cellophane-wrapped box of chocolate mints if the customer wanted to see them (we were told to simply point to the picture on the box), etc. As latch-key kids, my younger brother and I had a babysitter to stay with us after school for a few hours until I was about 11 to 12 years old. One day the babysitter couldn't make it, and her younger sister 13 years old (also a friend of mine) came to watch us. As I thought this to be rather intolerable, my parents then decided that I could take over the babysitter watch at 12-13 years old with my brother 4 years younger than me. A great perk was that the babysitter's salary was immediately transferred over to me as my allowance, which was a whopping $7/week at the time. And, all this was in the midst of a time when I recall in elementary school that the next-door neighbor boy was kidnapped, as was rumored, from a family who lauded themselves as being richer than most (but more probably in much secret debt) - and somehow the boy was returned unharmed. Yet, life went on and parental policies did not change.
They make our children walk to school! Force public school on us and do not provide transportation unless you live a mile or more away for elementary and 2 miles or more for middle and high school.
I grew up more or less in two states. I spent most of the year with my mother in a small town in Ohio, and most of the summer in Missouri in a small town my family had lived in and around since the 1830s. I was, in both places, what they call a free range child. I grew up independent. I never got into trouble, and the one time there was a problem with a strange man following me I told my mother and she called the sheriff. ::shrugging:: I raised my daughter free range in our little subdivision that is very isolated. She grew up independent too. I have been disturbed by reports like this one about how Child Protective Services has more or less put our kids in a protective shell. How are kids supposed to learn to function out in the world if we keep them out of exploring it? Once upon a time kids were even sent off to battle as drummers and fife players. Kids went west with their parents and just the journey was hazardous. But from these times came the great society we have. Sure it's dangerous, but I believe it will be more dangerous for these kids to go out when they turn 18 on their own because they won't have a clue how to survive on their own. CPS has way too much power, and parents are way too over protective. It's going to, in the long run, be a detriment to our society. The perfect society for children right now in the world is the Japanese. Their kids ride trains and do many things independently daily. We ought to pay attention.
Teresa England the world in this country is the safest it's ever been! Reaching these kids' age used to feel like a blessing not something that was supposed to happen. Kids could be burned at the stake like adults were. Kids fell ill, kids worked in factories losing limbs. Kidnappers always existed, but now we have the news. But anyone who does research knows this world is a lot safer for kids now than it ever has been! I mean honestly nowadays we consider it a nature given right to outlive your child. Your child is expected to outlive you. Decades ago most parents would have 2-3 of their children die as infants, toddlers, and kids. And many mothers who just died in childbirth
I'm all for children being able to play outside without parents hovering around constantly, those kids were probably completely safe (or as safe as they can be) and whoever called the law the 1st time was probably just nosey and needs a life, the problem as I see it is that those parents agreed to not allow the kids to go unsupervised and turned around and did exactly that. If I had the cops and CPS after me I'd do anything and everything to avoid giving them a reason to take my kids away. I really wouldn't care if they said I had to stand on my head to brush my teeth; I'd do it in a drop dead second. Sometimes, even if you're right, you need to pick your battles. I don't think letting kids walk to a park alone is a battle I'd ever pick. I'd rather be happy and live in peace than try to prove a point and risk losing the most important things in my life.
Pay attn. It's NOT playing it's the walk of ONE MILE that may co$t an innocent child their life with Pedo bears in FULL FORCE on a public street! Parents need to HOVER over their kids to ensure they're safe yet you made good points!
Do you really think for one second that there are any more pedos around now than there were 20, 30, 50, or 70 years ago, as a percentage of the population? Do you really think that most pedos get the children from grabbing a strange child on a public street? No, that's statistically the least likely way a pedophile will get their children/prey. It's more likely that a family friend, boyfriend of a single mother, the adult supervisor of some children's "wholesome" activity, a neighbor, will gently seduce the child(ren), and do it over several years, and get the child to believe (s)he is doing something wrong, so they won't tell.
Mahi, so you discount the fact that Most pedo's are in 'safe' places such as the clergy at church, a coach, a scout leader, a teacher, a family member and so on? Get real.
i'm 38, and grew up this way. i walked to and from school, played outside... had dance classes that were across the street and went there too....went to the store that was downstairs from our apartment... would bath myself, make small meals, spent a lot of time with friends... and i'm super responsible and independent today. i had to do a lot on my own because my parents were divorced and i'm an only child, my mom would teach me what to do, as she to work
TheBookWorm1718 yeah anyone could be a pedo, including family members. But what you are saying essentially is to not sign them up for any extracurricular activities and remove them from school? So cut them off from any social interaction because of fear that one of those people you know may be a pedo, but allow them to roam the streets with total strangers? Haha..okay....
Melissa James Cute Strawman fallacy. TheBookWorm is pointing out that these same shit heads that go around calling the police because parents let their children play in the yard will then turn around and just dump their kids off at any daycare, bible camp, baby sitter, family member, etc. and think they're holier than thou. When in fact their child is being molested right in front of them. You can crawl back in your hovel now.
TheBookWorm1718 excellent point! They're out in public and have been trained by their parents. Also, the people you've mentioned have access to children behind closed doors without parents suspecting a thing !
I don't see a problem with Free Range....but I also don't see any reason why our tax dollars should pay for police or volunteers to go looking for your kids if they are reported missing. I took care of myself, my little brother and my little sister as a child. We biked for miles. We climbed trees up to 20 feet. I think it was a huge mistake. I don't plan to be a helicopter parent but there is such a thing as common sense. If you can't be responsible, that is your own choice. Don't expect the rest of us to pick up for your poor choices. Personally, I think that every parent willing to let their child walk on busy city streets for a two mile round-trip should sign a waiver that no public help will be given to them if their kids go missing.
I grew up as a free range child. My sister and I used to walk to church and come home at 8 PM. But times are different now. No neighbors looking outside their windows to watch us pass by. No neighborhood cops to tail us quietly. There are pedophiles, creeps, serial killers, and their numbers aren't diminishing. They're growing. So when does free ranging just become lazy parenting? Or do we wait until the children are hurt before we admit something is wrong with the free range mindset?
Ummmm but if you do this with any other child, and don't say you "free range parent" you have truancy officers, and DCS at your door??? How the hell does that work?!?! It's not fair. I beg to differ, sex trafficking is a huge problem in the US. It's ok to let your kid play outside , but letting young children run a mile away from home isn't very wise. It's common sense, not being over protective. You are suppose to parent them, it's your job
Theman sorry but human trafficking is not in fact done mostly by people you know. That's very incorrect. If you know anyone who's in that buissness then I would have to question the type of person you are.
Theman yeah I actually don't watch tv but thanks for thinking you know anything about me. And let me fill you in on a truth about myself, my uncle is in law enforcement.
