topic Re: 'free-range parenting' in Mom to Mom

'free-range parenting'

RetRN — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:09:46 GMT

to be legal in Utah. Any thoughts?

Re: 'free-range parenting"

Mz iMac — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 19:47:57 GMT

Future serial killers

Re: 'free-range parenting"

itsmagic — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:12:59 GMT

When I grew up (back in the day) I remember walking or riding my bike everywhere during my elementary school years without an adult by my side. But now I don’t feel like it is safe.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

Kitlynn — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:19:21 GMT

I think growing up in a small rural town where we rode our bicycles all over town and walked all over was great. However it wasn't what I would call free range parenting. We all knew we had to be home for dinner and that our chores had to be done before we could go out and play. Parents looked out for all of the children and you knew if you did something you shouldn't your parents would know before you even got home. The world is not like it was back in the day and I think you have to really watch your children and know for yourself what is going on with them these days. Even back then in a large city you would never have been able to let your children just go all over. The first lessons we learned that for every action there was a reaction and you knew you didn't want the negative one.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

Glitter51 — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:25:07 GMT

That’s whats wrong with the world today!!! We need to get back to actually raising and disciplining our children. So many people wants to be their child’s “friend “ instead of being the parent. Children need and want to be paid attention to. The world has gone crazy IMO.

Re: 'free-range parenting"

kitcat51 — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:33:26 GMT

Hard to believe that a law needs to be passed to allow children to walk to & from school, go to a playground or go anywhere by themselves with their parents permission. A parents responsibility is to judge their childs abilities & give them the freedom they can handle.

Re: 'free-range parenting"

Carmie — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:54:27 GMT

When I grew up, we walked to school, rode our bikes in the street and waited in the car while our parents ran an errand.

i remember when my youngest sister was born. I just turned three, my brother just turned one and we were left in the car the hospital parking lot in June with the windows open while my father went into the hospital to pick up my mother and baby sister. No car seats or seat belts back in those days.

I remember that a nurse was with my mother pushing a wheel chair to the car and I remember being responsible for my little brother until my parents came back.

You can’t do that today, legal or not. it’s not the kids who do the wrong things and can’t be trusted. There are too many crazies out there preying on the kids.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

sweetee2 — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 21:01:25 GMT

Things aren't the same as they used to be. Dumbest thing we have ever done. Just asking for trouble.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

jpie — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 22:28:42 GMT

Children need to be loved, cared for and nurtured. Not everyone is suited nor do they have the skills to be an effective parent.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

Mominohio — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 23:26:46 GMT

Well I had to look it up, to be sure I knew what it was.

I have to say that with a bit of common sense in use, it is a good thing. We are over the top today, up our kids hoo haas, micromanaging their every move, helicopter parents.

The world is indeed different than the one we grew up in, but bad things happened back then too. Our little town, in the late 50's had two little girls raped and murdered on the train tracks, back in the day when people thought this kind of thing never happened. Danger has always been there.

We found safety in numbers, walking to school in groups, playing outdoors in groups if out of our own yards, and everyone in the neighborhood was your parent. If you were doing something dangerous, they called your mom and you got away with very little.

I think common sense needs to be used, but we are raising kids that can't make decisions, need constant supervision and direction, don't know what it is like to be alone and learn skills we all took/take for granted in judging situations, people, etc.

I think it is sad that we need laws both to protect children, and to protect parents that want to teach responsibility. It should all be pretty common sense, but it doesn't seem to be for some people.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

bmorechick — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 00:56:38 GMT

i grew up in the city of Baltimore in the 60s and 70s. While we were allowed to play in the alley or a street over, but we were never allowed to roam. My mom was way ahead of her time and always worried about someone snatching us. We never walked to school...she drove us to and picked us up. Or a close neighbor would. Today, when I go home to see my family, it makes my blood run cold when I see kids running free. Their parents would be the first ones on TV boo hooing about their kidnapped child...well where were you?

I was a helicopter parent and have 3 very independent adult children. Even at 62, my 91 year old dad says hey call me when you get home so I know you made it. He does the same with my sisters and they live around the corner. To me, yes it can be exhausting to be a helicopter parent but I would never forgive myself if something happened to one of my children when they were small due to my negligence.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

GSPgirl — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 01:18:56 GMT

@Glitter51wrote:
That’s whats wrong with the world today!!! We need to get back to actually raising and disciplining our children. So many people wants to be their child’s “friend “ instead of being the parent. Children need and want to be paid attention to. The world has gone crazy IMO.

Exactly. I stopped teaching because of the parents.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

Kachina624 — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 02:43:47 GMT

This is a boon for the lazy who don't want to be bothered by their kids. We all know times have changed and children must be protected from the elements in our society that would harm them.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

CalminHeart — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:23:11 GMT

IMO, free-range parenting seems like an excuse to not parent.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

chrystaltree — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 21:38:59 GMT

I think parents should be allowed to raise their children in any way they see fit. If they want their kids running around the neighborhood like hooligans, so be it. And that's what we are are really talking about. We aren't talking about kids who walk to and from school or who are allowed to play in a playground after school. We're talking about kids who have the freedom throughout the neighborhood at will. Kids being kids; especially the boys; they will get into mischief. They will be a nuisance when they get bored. Kids don't have good judgement and without supervision and rules; they could easily be influenced by older kids who aren't good kids. It goes on and on and on. But if parents don't care about things like that, so be it. Some parents smoke in their homes and cars; they are allowed to do that. Parents are allowed to feed their kids cookies, cakes, chips and soda all day and they are allowed to do that. This isn't much different.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

game-on — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 16:30:32 GMT

It seems like everything is about scaring parents.... and I know there are bad things that happen to kids.... but % wise I am not sure that there are as many awful things that happen as we are led to believe.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

Jill2dot0 — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 15:52:16 GMT

I guess it's okay ... until one of these kids "free-range" over into someone else's yard, or get's in the drive way ... or get's bitten by a dog because they "free-ranged" themselves over someones fence ... or falls into a pool.

I don't like the idea of having to child proof the world, cause some don't want to watch their kids ...

Re: 'free-range parenting'

SahmIam — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 16:04:22 GMT

Well, I guess I'm a "free-range" parent.

My kids walk to school (elementary and middle) without me holding their hand.

My kids walk the neighborhood with their buddies or ride their bikes all over the place (neighborhood) or ride to the schools to shoot hoops. We have trails that connect the communities and that's what they use.

My kids explore the woods around our homes, the schools without me.

My kids walk to the local liquor store which sells soda, candy and chips; they cross a busy rural road to get there. They walk with their friends (6th grade) or alone (once they enter 8th grade). The family that owns that shop knows all the kids and their kids go to school with my kids.

My rule is you let me know where you're going and you call me once you're there. Dinner time is at XYZ. You WILL be here at that point UNLESS you call me first. I WILL know the names of the parents of the friends house you're going to, their address and their phone number.

I trust they know right from wrong; that's how they're being raised. Common sense is used and well, there ya go.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

ROMARY — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 19:38:50 GMT

I think the most thing I'm worried about is that most/many/some kids are walking around, not paying attention to their surroundings, looking down, texting. Or listening to loud music in their ear buds.

That, 'to me', is very dangerous.

Especially when they are alone.

Too many culprits driving, or maybe even lurking, around, just waiting for trouble.

Re: 'free-range parenting'

SunValley — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 10:42:58 GMT

This law assumes parents have good judgment, that children will make sensible decisions on what is safe or appropriate when faced with situations on their own, that children will not get into mischief, and that nothing bad will happen (open water like canals, roaming dogs, traffic, and weirdos) because, well, statistically it won’t. The perfect storm...