Our Kids Are Safer Than Ever, But We Struggle to Accept It

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I grew up in the 70s and 80s. My mom worked nights as a waitress, so I was a latchkey kid starting in second grade. I’d come home, let myself in, and whip up a sandwich while waiting for my older sister to get back from junior high. This was completely normal back then, as was walking home from school with friends.

Summer days were spent exploring our condominium complex, and the only adult supervision we had was when we were at the pool. There’s a saying that mothers used to keep an eye on all the neighborhood kids, but in our apartment complex, I don’t think anyone was really watching us. We knew the rules: stay within the complex, come running when our parents called, and avoid coming home with any injuries. We adhered to those rules without a hitch.

Back then, this was just called “parenting.” Nowadays, we have a term for it: “Free Range Parenting.” Recently, a family who practices this style faced scrutiny from Child Protective Services and concerned neighbors for allowing their kids to play unsupervised at a park. Their six and ten-year-olds were picked up at 5 p.m. while playing, and their parents didn’t find out until three hours later.

Surprisingly, most responses to their story have supported the parents’ choice to give their kids independence. So, why do we see fewer kids playing outside alone today? While I understand the reasoning behind free-range parenting, I often wonder if I’d feel comfortable letting my own kids roam free at that age. Honestly, I’m not sure. The non-stop news cycle makes me anxious.

The Washington Post pointed out that children are actually safer now than ever. Child mortality rates and child homicides have significantly decreased. For kids aged 5 to 14, the chance of dying from any cause is about 1 in 10,000, or 0.01 percent. Reports of missing children have dropped by 40% since 1997, even though the population has increased by over 30%. Astonishingly, only 0.1 percent of missing persons cases involve what we think of as “typical kidnappings” by strangers.

So, why the fear? Why would someone see kids playing together in a park and assume they’re in danger? We’ve reached a point where many believe there’s danger lurking everywhere, even without evidence. How can we shift our mindset? How do we allow our children the freedom they need to grow and explore?

The reality is, if it was considered safe for us to play outside alone as kids (which I think we can all agree it was), then it’s even safer for our kids today. It’s time we start believing that.

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In summary, while our kids are statistically safer than we were, the prevailing fear can hinder their independence. It’s essential to recognize the facts and allow them the freedom to explore their world.