Danielle and Alexander Meitiv allow their two children, Rafi and Dvora, to play outdoors without adult supervision. They believe in “free-range” parenting, a movement where children learn independence by being allowed to make choices and venture out in the world on their own.
The couple allowed their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter to walk to and from a Maryland park, one mile away, in December. Someone noticed Rafi and Dvora playing alone at the park and called the authorities. Now, the couple is being investigated for neglect.
Neglect – for allowing their kids to have some independence to go to the local park on their own. Is this crazy talk? Was the person who notified authorities justified in making the call?
Oh how I’m glad we grew up when we did… all the neighbourhood kids would play outside for hours without any parent supervision, only to go home for dinner. We’d play hide and seek until dusk. I remember being in grade one or two and walking a kilometre to go to school and back for lunch – without having someone call the police. Some may say parents back then, in the 1970s and 1980s, were too casual and lax in their parenting style. But we survived and gained a sense of self-reliance.
Today my kids walk to school, which is just across the street, and I let them go on their own while I watch from the window. They play outside without supervision, and sometimes I’ll let them venture to the school to play there. How will they ever learn to cross the street if I’m always there to hold their hand? I feel that giving them a little bit of freedom will test their decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Of course a parent must feel their children are ready for some independence. Not all children have the same readiness at one particular age. But once a parent feels confident that the child understands what to do and who to call if something were to happen, they should be given a little bit of freedom.
Whether you can believe it or not, crime is lower today than it was when we were growing up. Media sensationalism proves otherwise and with social media making news available as it happens, parents can’t help feel more of a need to protect our children.
When is an appropriate age to allow your children to walk to school, or go to the park alone?
Update: The state found the parents responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect, which means CPS will keep a file on the family for at least five years and leaves open the question of what would happen if the Meitiv children get reported again for walking without adult supervision.
What do you think?