Free-range kids picked up AGAIN by police

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Common sense is to let parents decide how much supervision their kids need -- absent child neglect, which this isn't.

It absolutely is neglect for the 6 year old. That is not common sense. So, since my kid can give you driving directions or which bus to take to somewhere, should I allow my six year old to go where ever he wants because he can? He's more accurate than our GPS sometimes.

Of course you shouldn't allow your six-year-old to go wherever he wants because he can. You should allow your six-year-old to go places you think he's ready to go, in ways you think he's ready for. Just as the Meitivs are trying to do.

"Trying" can still equate to poor judgment.

And I'm sure that you've made decisions that I think are bad, just as I'm sure that I've made decisions that you think are bad. The question is, do those decisions constitute child neglect? Should I call CPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Common sense is to let parents decide how much supervision their kids need -- absent child neglect, which this isn't.

It absolutely is neglect for the 6 year old. That is not common sense. So, since my kid can give you driving directions or which bus to take to somewhere, should I allow my six year old to go where ever he wants because he can? He's more accurate than our GPS sometimes.

Of course you shouldn't allow your six-year-old to go wherever he wants because he can. You should allow your six-year-old to go places you think he's ready to go, in ways you think he's ready for. Just as the Meitivs are trying to do.

"Trying" can still equate to poor judgment.

And I'm sure that you've made decisions that I think are bad, just as I'm sure that I've made decisions that you think are bad. The question is, do those decisions constitute child neglect? Should I call CPS?

If you think a child (mine or anyone's) is unsafe, yes, please call CPS. I'll do the same

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Common sense is to let parents decide how much supervision their kids need -- absent child neglect, which this isn't.

It absolutely is neglect for the 6 year old. That is not common sense. So, since my kid can give you driving directions or which bus to take to somewhere, should I allow my six year old to go where ever he wants because he can? He's more accurate than our GPS sometimes.

Of course you shouldn't allow your six-year-old to go wherever he wants because he can. You should allow your six-year-old to go places you think he's ready to go, in ways you think he's ready for. Just as the Meitivs are trying to do.

"Trying" can still equate to poor judgment.

And I'm sure that you've made decisions that I think are bad, just as I'm sure that I've made decisions that you think are bad. The question is, do those decisions constitute child neglect? Should I call CPS?

If you think a child (mine or anyone's) is unsafe, yes, please call CPS. I'll do the same

No, the issue is whether you or I should call CPS about poor judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Would you be okay if first grade teachers remained inside their classrooms while their students play in the playground area unsupervised?

The first-grade teachers actually do remain inside their classrooms (or eat lunch, or have meetings), in my children's school system.

while the kids play outside? I've worked 25+ years in several public schools and one private, and that practice has never been allowed in any of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Common sense is to let parents decide how much supervision their kids need -- absent child neglect, which this isn't.

It absolutely is neglect for the 6 year old. That is not common sense. So, since my kid can give you driving directions or which bus to take to somewhere, should I allow my six year old to go where ever he wants because he can? He's more accurate than our GPS sometimes.

Of course you shouldn't allow your six-year-old to go wherever he wants because he can. You should allow your six-year-old to go places you think he's ready to go, in ways you think he's ready for. Just as the Meitivs are trying to do.

"Trying" can still equate to poor judgment.

And I'm sure that you've made decisions that I think are bad, just as I'm sure that I've made decisions that you think are bad. The question is, do those decisions constitute child neglect? Should I call CPS?

If you think a child (mine or anyone's) is unsafe, yes, please call CPS. I'll do the same

No, the issue is whether you or I should call CPS about poor judgment.

The issue is child safety, which may or may not include poor judgment. In some instances, a child may have wandered off without the parents' knowledge. If someone sees a young child unattended at a playground, I happen to think a call to the police or CPS is warranted. You don't have to agree with my making that call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The issue is child safety, which may or may not include poor judgment. In some instances, a child may have wandered off without the parents' knowledge. If someone sees a young child unattended at a playground, I happen to think a call to the police or CPS is warranted. You don't have to agree with my making that call.

I agree -- the issue is child safety. Not poor judgment.

When you say "young child", what ages do you have in mind?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Would you be okay if first grade teachers remained inside their classrooms while their students play in the playground area unsupervised?

The first-grade teachers actually do remain inside their classrooms (or eat lunch, or have meetings), in my children's school system.

while the kids play outside? I've worked 25+ years in several public schools and one private, and that practice has never been allowed in any of them.

Yes. The teachers don't supervise recess. Other people do.

In any case, I don't think that school is a good analogy. For example, at home, my children don't need a bathroom pass to go to the bathroom, and there is no blue line in the hallway that they have to walk on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

How old are your children? Too young for elementary school, presumably.

Six and eight, and I'm talking about Saturdays and holidays in Maryland. It sounds like the regulation quoted above allows kids to be unsupervised as long as they are not indoors or in a vehicle.

So, if I need to work a few hours on a Saturday and the babysitter can't make it, it seems that I can just tell my six and eight year old to walk to the park and stay there. The regulation says nothing about children needing to be with an adult when they are outdoors, so this should be fine, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

How old are your children? Too young for elementary school, presumably.

Six and eight, and I'm talking about Saturdays and holidays in Maryland. It sounds like the regulation quoted above allows kids to be unsupervised as long as they are not indoors or in a vehicle.

So, if I need to work a few hours on a Saturday and the babysitter can't make it, it seems that I can just tell my six and eight year old to walk to the park and stay there. The regulation says nothing about children needing to be with an adult when they are outdoors, so this should be fine, right?

If you don't have a problem with it, then I don't have a problem with it. There is nothing radical or neglectful about a six-year-old and an eight-year-old at a park for a few hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

How old are your children? Too young for elementary school, presumably.

Six and eight, and I'm talking about Saturdays and holidays in Maryland. It sounds like the regulation quoted above allows kids to be unsupervised as long as they are not indoors or in a vehicle.

So, if I need to work a few hours on a Saturday and the babysitter can't make it, it seems that I can just tell my six and eight year old to walk to the park and stay there. The regulation says nothing about children needing to be with an adult when they are outdoors, so this should be fine, right?

or the parking lot of a casino... it's all good.

If you don't have a problem with it, then I don't have a problem with it. There is nothing radical or neglectful about a six-year-old and an eight-year-old at a park for a few hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

How old are your children? Too young for elementary school, presumably.

Six and eight, and I'm talking about Saturdays and holidays in Maryland. It sounds like the regulation quoted above allows kids to be unsupervised as long as they are not indoors or in a vehicle.

So, if I need to work a few hours on a Saturday and the babysitter can't make it, it seems that I can just tell my six and eight year old to walk to the park and stay there. The regulation says nothing about children needing to be with an adult when they are outdoors, so this should be fine, right?

If you don't have a problem with it, then I don't have a problem with it. There is nothing radical or neglectful about a six-year-old and an eight-year-old at a park for a few hours.

or the parking lot of a casino... it's all good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you don't have a problem with it, then I don't have a problem with it. There is nothing radical or neglectful about a six-year-old and an eight-year-old at a park for a few hours.

or the parking lot of a casino... it's all good.

I can think of some differences between a park and the parking lot of a casino. Can you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Would you be okay if first grade teachers remained inside their classrooms while their students play in the playground area unsupervised?

The first-grade teachers actually do remain inside their classrooms (or eat lunch, or have meetings), in my children's school system.

while the kids play outside? I've worked 25+ years in several public schools and one private, and that practice has never been allowed in any of them.

Yes. The teachers don't supervise recess. Other people do.

In any case, I don't think that school is a good analogy. For example, at home, my children don't need a bathroom pass to go to the bathroom, and there is no blue line in the hallway that they have to walk on.

It's a very good analogy in that children that age need adult supervision--in my opinion and that of many others. An adult is present in case of an accident, a stranger entering the playground area, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you leave a child 8 years or younger at home alone, and the school learns about it, DFCS will be contacted by school personnel in most states.

I know what the law is in Maryland, namely:

Family Law §5–801.

(a) A person who is charged with the care of a child under the age of 8 years may not allow the child to be locked or confined in a dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle while the person charged is absent and the dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle is out of the sight of the person charged unless the person charged provides a reliable person at least 13 years old to remain with the child to protect the child.

What other states have laws, and what are those laws?

This is only part of the law. Another law applies to neglect in general, which applies wherever a child might be left unattended, like a park or street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

How old are your children? Too young for elementary school, presumably.

Six and eight, and I'm talking about Saturdays and holidays in Maryland. It sounds like the regulation quoted above allows kids to be unsupervised as long as they are not indoors or in a vehicle.

So, if I need to work a few hours on a Saturday and the babysitter can't make it, it seems that I can just tell my six and eight year old to walk to the park and stay there. The regulation says nothing about children needing to be with an adult when they are outdoors, so this should be fine, right?

If you don't have a problem with it, then I don't have a problem with it. There is nothing radical or neglectful about a six-year-old and an eight-year-old at a park for a few hours.

Okay, I never thought of this. So, I don't really have to have a babysitter at all, I can just send the kids to the park. We could save a lot of money and put it in the college accounts. It doesn't matter where I am, the kids can be alone as long as they stay outside?