In the story linked below (I’m trying to figure out how it’s going to look, as this is the first post with a link in it), is the story of a couple who lets their 10 year-old walk home alone while supervising his six year-old sister. Maybe you’ve seen it on the news.
I’m not even sure if I like free-range chicken, let alone free-range kids!
Sure, I’m all for giving children responsibility. Our 12 year-old twins are now involved in their school’s Ski Club, which brings them to a local ski area. They are there alone. Sure, there are a few adults in the lodge, in case anything bad happens, or if someone is injured, but for the most part, they have free-range of the mountain. I’m sure they feel great about it, and I know that they are enjoying their independence – they have told me as much.
My twins also walk to and from school in the morning. They are the only two kids in their entire school who do so. It’s not far, and they only have one street to cross. I don’t think that I would have let them do it alone at age 10, and certainly not if one was younger by 4 years. Not that they couldn’t handle it, but I’m not sure that I could!
I realize that all kids mature at different stages, but I think 10 is too young to be in charge of a another person. I watched the video, as should you. The father is upset, and that I understand. I’m imagining his two kids walking on the same street that he is walking on. DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!!! It’s a very busy street. I would have trouble letting my 12 year-olds cross such a busy street. Is it because they aren’t from the city? Maybe. I’d ask any of you to chime in – city dwellers – when do you let your kids go out and about alone? When are they allowed around the corner/ On the subway, etc.?
One quote that kind of bothered me (no, not that the mother was a climate consultant) was, “We are the parents. We are the ones who decide what’s best for the children.” While that’s true, what if you decide that your kids should be drinking Manhattans with you before dinner? Shouldn’t someone be watching out for children?
The article mentions that “free-range parenting” came as a response to “helicopter parenting”. Wow, what ever happened to just parenting?
youroptimisticpesssimist 