Free-range kids picked up AGAIN by police

[Anonymous]

So are the police and CPS now going to pick up every kid under whatever age seen walking/playing alone? Did funding all of a sudden have a major increase?

I doubt either is true, so why THIS family? What is the real story with these ones, I wonder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So are the police and CPS now going to pick up every kid under whatever age seen walking/playing alone? Did funding all of a sudden have a major increase?

I doubt either is true, so why THIS family? What is the real story with these ones, I wonder.

I'm wiling to bet there's a lot more going on here than we know about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To all the posters that say "I walked x miles and crossed x streets alone when I was age X and survived, so it's ok for kids today to do it." Consider this:

The kids that didn't survive aren't here to present the other view.

Think about that every time you get on plane/train and especially when you put your kid in a car which is dangerous!

Yep. That's why we use car seats. Kids used to not do that either.

Kids in car seats die too.

Wow you must be an idiot. So do you reject car seats too?

I reject the idea that a kid in a car seat is safer than a kid walking to a neighborhood park made for kids.

So you reject car seat laws? After all, kids in car seats die too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To all the posters that say "I walked x miles and crossed x streets alone when I was age X and survived, so it's ok for kids today to do it." Consider this:

The kids that didn't survive aren't here to present the other view.

Think about that every time you get on plane/train and especially when you put your kid in a car which is dangerous!

Yep. That's why we use car seats. Kids used to not do that either.

Kids in car seats die too.

Wow you must be an idiot. So do you reject car seats too?

I agree only to a point. If you know today that children riding in a car with a car seat (which are not fully t

I reject the idea that a kid in a car seat is safer than a kid walking to a neighborhood park made for kids.

You've entirely missed the point here. Entirely.

The point: People who claim that because they did something and survived, therefore it is fine for the next generation to do it, are completely overlooking the fact that the kids from their generation who didn't survive aren't here to make the counter argument.

I agree only to a point. If you know today that children in car seats (which aren't fully/appropriately tested yet) are less safe than walking to neighborhood park alone, then why give a pass to parents who drive their kids but not to those who let them walk around their neighborhood. By the way, my family STILL lives in the City of Detroit, and don't see that as less dangerous than SS.

Who is saying that a kid is a car seat is less safe than a kid walking to a neighborhood park alone? That's ridiculous.

Put your kid is a car seat and go. If you'd rather them walk to the park, WALK WITH THEM.

Must get back to work now. Will have to save the creationist versus evolutionist debate for another time.

That doesn't even make sense.

[Anonymous]

ALSO, if the kids were kidnapped (god forbid, or any child) are you all trying to say it's the parent's fault and they then should be arrested for breaking "the law" about leaving children unattended. I'm sure that really would've helped Etan Patz's mother. Victim blaming is NOT THE SOLUTION

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Arlington and expecting my first child soon. I find this case disturbing, regardless of the particular situation, but because it made me look up the Arlington County rules.

8 years and under : Should not be left alone for any period of time. This includes leaving children unattended in cars, playgrounds and yards.
9 to 10 years : Should not be left alone for more than 1 ½ hours and only during daylight and early evening hours.
11 to 12 years : May be left alone for up to 3 hours, but not late at night or in circumstances requiring adult supervision.
13 to 15 years : May be left unsupervised, but not overnight.
16 to 17 years : May be left unsupervised for up to two consecutive overnight periods.


Seriously, this is saying a 6 year old cannot EVER be alone, even in your own yard! It makes me anxious just thinking about it! I'm a child of the 90's. As soon as I was capable of riding a bike (at 5) I was allowed to ride to the corner and back. My mom sent me out into the yard ALL THE TIME, pretty much every day. I walked to school which was about 5 blocks starting in first grade (and on weekends to the playground), and now that would be neglect?! I can't believe most of the board is saying that's legitimate neglect and the children deserve to be picked up by CPS to allow young siblings to feel some freedom. To never be out of your parents watchful gaze until your 8 years old seems like a recipe for anxiety and mental health issues to me, and just hatred from your kid. My partner and I really have to think about leaving this damn town if the general consensus here would be we're bad parents and don't deserve children.

Yes. I think if you plan to leave a kid 8 or under alone, you should leave town. I would never do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ALSO, if the kids were kidnapped (god forbid, or any child) are you all trying to say it's the parent's fault and they then should be arrested for breaking "the law" about leaving children unattended. I'm sure that really would've helped Etan Patz's mother. Victim blaming is NOT THE SOLUTION

Wtf are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ALSO, if the kids were kidnapped (god forbid, or any child) are you all trying to say it's the parent's fault and they then should be arrested for breaking "the law" about leaving children unattended. I'm sure that really would've helped Etan Patz's mother. Victim blaming is NOT THE SOLUTION

Victim blaming is not the solution, for sure. But the problem here is CPS told them not to do it again, yet they did, risking losing their kids to foster care. If they lose their kids, then yes...they are to blame. If they want to change the law, there are better, less dramatic, less martyr-like ways to do that. These people don't take that route, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ALSO, if the kids were kidnapped (god forbid, or any child) are you all trying to say it's the parent's fault and they then should be arrested for breaking "the law" about leaving children unattended. I'm sure that really would've helped Etan Patz's mother. Victim blaming is NOT THE SOLUTION

Victim blaming is not the solution, for sure. But the problem here is CPS told them not to do it again, yet they did, risking losing their kids to foster care. If they lose their kids, then yes...they are to blame. If they want to change the law, there are better, less dramatic, less martyr-like ways to do that. These people don't take that route, though.

"these people", god help us all. I truly do fervently hope I will one day live in a community and not a fake-ass one all the DC yuppies pretend to foster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So are the police and CPS now going to pick up every kid under whatever age seen walking/playing alone? Did funding all of a sudden have a major increase?

I doubt either is true, so why THIS family? What is the real story with these ones, I wonder.

I'm wiling to bet there's a lot more going on here than we know about.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ALSO, if the kids were kidnapped (god forbid, or any child) are you all trying to say it's the parent's fault and they then should be arrested for breaking "the law" about leaving children unattended. I'm sure that really would've helped Etan Patz's mother. Victim blaming is NOT THE SOLUTION

Victim blaming is not the solution, for sure. But the problem here is CPS told them not to do it again, yet they did, risking losing their kids to foster care. If they lose their kids, then yes...they are to blame. If they want to change the law, there are better, less dramatic, less martyr-like ways to do that. These people don't take that route, though.

"these people", god help us all. I truly do fervently hope I will one day live in a community and not a fake-ass one all the DC yuppies pretend to foster.

Ok..."These parents..." Better?

The point is they willfully did something CPS told them not to do. I they lose custody of the kids, it will be their fault. I'm all for changing on an unjust system, but I won't put the custody of my kids at risk to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ALSO, if the kids were kidnapped (god forbid, or any child) are you all trying to say it's the parent's fault and they then should be arrested for breaking "the law" about leaving children unattended. I'm sure that really would've helped Etan Patz's mother. Victim blaming is NOT THE SOLUTION

You mean like convicting parents that don't put their kids in car seats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don't make laws based on the one six year old who can do it. You have to draw the line somewhere at a reasonably safe age.

Which law makes it illegal for a six-year-old to cross a street without an adult?

It isn't illegal - people were questioning first, at what age and then second, is it all children at a given age. This person was just answering the previous posters not saying it's already a law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the posters that say "I walked x miles and crossed x streets alone when I was age X and survived, so it's ok for kids today to do it." Consider this:

The kids that didn't survive aren't here to present the other view.

We also didn't have carseats or wear seatbelts but there are laws about those things now as well.

[Anonymous]

Remember the good old days when cops just drove drunks home or let them go if they were just a mile away from home.