Reflecting on my childhood in the 70s and 80s, I remember a world that felt entirely different. My mother juggled her job as a waitress, often leaving for work before I returned home from school. From about second grade onward, I was a latch-key kid, letting myself into our home and whipping up a quick sandwich while I awaited my older sister’s return from junior high. This was simply the norm; walking home with friends after school was just what we did.
Our summers were filled with endless adventures around our condominium complex, where adult supervision was a rarity—unless we were splashing in the pool. There’s a nostalgic notion that back then, mothers collectively watched over all the children in the neighborhood. But in our apartment, I suspect many moms were simply good at being invisible. We understood the unspoken rules: we stayed within the condo confines, rushed home when our parents called, and avoided returning home with any scrapes or bruises.
The parenting style of that era was simply known as “parenting.” Nowadays, it has a label—“Free Range Parenting”—which advocates giving children the freedom to explore and learn from their experiences. This week, a notable case involving a free-range family has drawn attention, highlighting their struggles with Child Protective Services (CPS) and concerned neighbors who deemed them “negligent” for allowing their young children, ages six and ten, to play at a park unsupervised. Alarmingly, the parents were not informed for three hours that their kids had been picked up for playing alone.
Overwhelmingly, the public has rallied behind the parents, supporting their choice to grant their children independence. So, why do we see fewer kids playing outside unaccompanied today?
While I agree in principle with these parents, I find myself questioning if I would allow my own kids the same freedom at that age. The weight of our 24-hour news cycle has influenced my perspective, making me wary.
According to an insightful analysis by The Washington Post, children today are statistically safer than ever before. Child mortality rates and child homicide rates have significantly decreased; for children aged 5 to 14, the odds of premature death are now about 1 in 10,000, or 0.01 percent. Reports of missing children have plummeted by 40% since 1997, despite a 30% population increase, indicating that the actual rate of missing person reports for minors has dropped even more dramatically. Most astonishingly, only 0.1% of missing persons cases involve what we typically think of as “stranger abductions.”
So, what drives our fear? Why would someone see children playing in a park during daylight and perceive them as being in danger? We’ve reached a point where many of us instinctively perceive threat in every corner of our lives, despite evidence to the contrary.
How can we shift our mindset? How do we cultivate a healthier approach to parenting that allows our children the independence they deserve? The truth is, if it was safe enough for us to roam freely as kids (and most of us agree it was), then it’s even safer for our children today.
How do we begin to embrace that reality? For further insights into this topic, do check out our other blog post, here. Additionally, if you’re looking for guidance on effective home insemination techniques, Make A Mom is an authority you can trust. An excellent resource for understanding the process of intrauterine insemination is available at Healthline.
In conclusion, it’s important to recognize that while the world has changed, the safety of our children has improved. Embracing this reality is the first step towards fostering their independence.