Md. officials: Letting ‘free range’ kids walk or play alone is not neglect
Maryland officials have taken steps to clarify their views about children playing or walking alone outdoors in a new policy directive that says Child Protective Services should not be involved in such cases unless children have been harmed or face a substantial risk of harm.
The directive, part of a public statement to be issued Friday, follows a nationally debated case involving “free range” parents Danielle and Alexander Meitiv, who let their young children walk home alone from parks in Montgomery County.
The Meitivs say they have gradually allowed their son, Rafi, 10, and daughter, Dvora, 6, more freedom to walk on their own in areas they know. But police twice picked up the siblings as they made their way home in Silver Spring, and CPS neglect investigations ensued.
They live in the city where there are obviously no sex offenders. I pity those kids. What other nasty lessons are they going to have to learn when something goes wrong because mommy thinks you should fend for yourself and grow up at 6. Sad.
At what point do you let parents parent their kids? Good lord, I have to be with them every waking moment of the day. It's up to me to teach my kids about strangers and safety. It's also up to me to make sure their are rules in place. The likely hood of being kidnapped by a stranger is very small. Most abductions and victimization of kids happens at the hands of people they know. Not a random stranger. Helicopter parenting isn't helpful at all. You have to give your kids a chance to think for themselves and make good decisions. Now if they lived in a crime infested neighborhood with crazies obviously walking around in the street...a different story. This is not the case. We can't then in turn as a society turn around complain about college students who have their moms call their professors when we have decided that my gosh a 10 and 6 yr old can't make it to the park and back home. There has to be a reasonable balance. Smothering kids makes them indecisive, unsafe and unable to think. Those are the kids that go off the college and do truly dumb shit because they haven't been able to make a decision on their own ever.
yeah ok until a sex offender scoops them up?
ReplyDeleteThen the parents are in the clear.
ReplyDeleteThey live in the city where there are obviously no sex offenders. I pity those kids. What other nasty lessons are they going to have to learn when something goes wrong because mommy thinks you should fend for yourself and grow up at 6. Sad.
ReplyDeleteAt what point do you let parents parent their kids? Good lord, I have to be with them every waking moment of the day. It's up to me to teach my kids about strangers and safety. It's also up to me to make sure their are rules in place. The likely hood of being kidnapped by a stranger is very small. Most abductions and victimization of kids happens at the hands of people they know. Not a random stranger. Helicopter parenting isn't helpful at all. You have to give your kids a chance to think for themselves and make good decisions. Now if they lived in a crime infested neighborhood with crazies obviously walking around in the street...a different story. This is not the case. We can't then in turn as a society turn around complain about college students who have their moms call their professors when we have decided that my gosh a 10 and 6 yr old can't make it to the park and back home. There has to be a reasonable balance. Smothering kids makes them indecisive, unsafe and unable to think. Those are the kids that go off the college and do truly dumb shit because they haven't been able to make a decision on their own ever.
ReplyDelete6:04 Everyone has the right to parent the way they want to parent. I'm just thankful that my grandchildren are being parented well.
ReplyDelete