Free-range parents cited but not charged

[Anonymous]

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/silver-spring-parents-charged-with-child-neglect-for-allowing-kids-to-walk-home-alone-112094.html

What a crazy world we live in. Statistics show the world is safer but yet government now has to decide when we as parents can let them have some independence. My 11yr old goes up to the park all the time with my 5yr old. I would be PISSED off if a cop stopped them and someone threatened my kids had to go to foster care while they investigate me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/silver-spring-parents-charged-with-child-neglect-for-allowing-kids-to-walk-home-alone-112094.html

What a crazy world we live in. Statistics show the world is safer but yet government now has to decide when we as parents can let them have some independence. My 11yr old goes up to the park all the time with my 5yr old. I would be PISSED off if a cop stopped them and someone threatened my kids had to go to foster care while they investigate me.

insert faux rage

[Anonymous]

Well, I am sorry, but I don't understand why people find this outcome so shocking. The 10 year old is fine to go to the park by his/her self, but under MD law you can't have a child under 8 unsupervised, and a 6 year old child can't be supervised by a 10 year old. If you disagree with the law, lobby to have it changed, but this is not a new law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I am sorry, but I don't understand why people find this outcome so shocking. The 10 year old is fine to go to the park by his/her self, but under MD law you can't have a child under 8 unsupervised, and a 6 year old child can't be supervised by a 10 year old. If you disagree with the law, lobby to have it changed, but this is not a new law.

You misquote the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/silver-spring-parents-charged-with-child-neglect-for-allowing-kids-to-walk-home-alone-112094.html

What a crazy world we live in. Statistics show the world is safer but yet government now has to decide when we as parents can let them have some independence. My 11yr old goes up to the park all the time with my 5yr old. I would be PISSED off if a cop stopped them and someone threatened my kids had to go to foster care while they investigate me.

Do your kids cross a six-lane highway to get there like these kids did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I am sorry, but I don't understand why people find this outcome so shocking. The 10 year old is fine to go to the park by his/her self, but under MD law you can't have a child under 8 unsupervised, and a 6 year old child can't be supervised by a 10 year old. If you disagree with the law, lobby to have it changed, but this is not a new law.

Actually, that is NOT what the law says.
The law that you are referring to only applies to confined areas like a house or car. There is no specific law for the age of kids out in the world.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmStatutesText.aspx?article=gfl§ion=5-801&ext=html&session=2015RS&tab=subject5

§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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/silver-spring-parents-charged-with-child-neglect-for-allowing-kids-to-walk-home-alone-112094.html

What a crazy world we live in. Statistics show the world is safer but yet government now has to decide when we as parents can let them have some independence. My 11yr old goes up to the park all the time with my 5yr old. I would be PISSED off if a cop stopped them and someone threatened my kids had to go to foster care while they investigate me.

Do your kids cross a six-lane highway to get there like these kids did?

What six lane highway? Are you suggesting these kids jaywalked across the beltway?

[Anonymous]

These parents seem to be focussing on their agenda more than on the reality of their kids/neighborhood. It's one thing to let your kids go outside and play on the same block, or at the park that is a block away. It's another thing to let them play 9-12 blocks away... if anything happened and they needed help, it would take a lot longer to get back and it's possible the hurt one would have to be left alone while the other went for help.

It's one thing to let your kids play in a neighborhood where they know people, it's something different when they are walking through areas where they know no one and there are random adults hanging around or a place where lots of cars are driving through.

It's one thing to leave a 10 yr old in charge of a 6 yr. old if they are in a very controlled setting and you will be out for a short time (i.e. you drop off the library books 1 mi. away while they are watching tv. at home), it's something different to leave a 10 yr. old full decision-making authority over a 6 yr. old in an uncontrolled environment (outside, streets, playground where swinging and climbing are happening). Kids get injured. My own kids have have playground dramas and traumas many times.

I don't disagree with the spirit of "free range parenting" -- but I do disagree with how these particular parents are implementing it. There's free-range, and then there's just stupid or negligent. IMO, they are the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/silver-spring-parents-charged-with-child-neglect-for-allowing-kids-to-walk-home-alone-112094.html

What a crazy world we live in. Statistics show the world is safer but yet government now has to decide when we as parents can let them have some independence. My 11yr old goes up to the park all the time with my 5yr old. I would be PISSED off if a cop stopped them and someone threatened my kids had to go to foster care while they investigate me.

Do your kids cross a six-lane highway to get there like these kids did?

What six lane highway? Are you suggesting these kids jaywalked across the beltway?

From the news reports I saw, the kids' route took them across Georgia Ave. at a point where it expands to six lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These parents seem to be focussing on their agenda more than on the reality of their kids/neighborhood. It's one thing to let your kids go outside and play on the same block, or at the park that is a block away. It's another thing to let them play 9-12 blocks away... if anything happened and they needed help, it would take a lot longer to get back and it's possible the hurt one would have to be left alone while the other went for help.

It's one thing to let your kids play in a neighborhood where they know people, it's something different when they are walking through areas where they know no one and there are random adults hanging around or a place where lots of cars are driving through.

It's one thing to leave a 10 yr old in charge of a 6 yr. old if they are in a very controlled setting and you will be out for a short time (i.e. you drop off the library books 1 mi. away while they are watching tv. at home), it's something different to leave a 10 yr. old full decision-making authority over a 6 yr. old in an uncontrolled environment (outside, streets, playground where swinging and climbing are happening). Kids get injured. My own kids have have playground dramas and traumas many times.

I don't disagree with the spirit of "free range parenting" -- but I do disagree with how these particular parents are implementing it. There's free-range, and then there's just stupid or negligent. IMO, they are the latter.

Your opinion applies to your kids. That's great. Different parents, different opinions for different kids.
I see no justification for the law to get involved in this case.

To pick a ridiculous comparison: How about taking kids away from families that have young kids, a driveway and an SUV lacking a backup camera. That might actually save some lives.
http://www.kidsandcars.org/back-overs.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/silver-spring-parents-charged-with-child-neglect-for-allowing-kids-to-walk-home-alone-112094.html

What a crazy world we live in. Statistics show the world is safer but yet government now has to decide when we as parents can let them have some independence. My 11yr old goes up to the park all the time with my 5yr old. I would be PISSED off if a cop stopped them and someone threatened my kids had to go to foster care while they investigate me.

Do your kids cross a six-lane highway to get there like these kids did?

What six lane highway? Are you suggesting these kids jaywalked across the beltway?

From the news reports I saw, the kids' route took them across Georgia Ave. at a point where it expands to six lanes.

You mean that road with traffic lights and crosswalks? I am confident that my kids can manage that, just like these kids. Highway? No.

[Anonymous]

Well, I am sorry, but I don't understand why people find this outcome so shocking. The 10 year old is fine to go to the park by his/her self, but under MD law you can't have a child under 8 unsupervised, and a 6 year old child can't be supervised by a 10 year old. If you disagree with the law, lobby to have it changed, but this is not a new law.


Actually, that is NOT what the law says.
The law that you are referring to only applies to confined areas like a house or car. There is no specific law for the age of kids out in the world.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmStatutesText....ml&session=2015RS&tab=subject5

§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 earthly sense would it make to allow children under 8 to be out on the street alone walking for a mile but not alone in their own home? Again, if you don't agree that this should be the case, you can ask Maryland to change it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/silver-spring-parents-charged-with-child-neglect-for-allowing-kids-to-walk-home-alone-112094.html

What a crazy world we live in. Statistics show the world is safer but yet government now has to decide when we as parents can let them have some independence. My 11yr old goes up to the park all the time with my 5yr old. I would be PISSED off if a cop stopped them and someone threatened my kids had to go to foster care while they investigate me.

Do your kids cross a six-lane highway to get there like these kids did?

What six lane highway? Are you suggesting these kids jaywalked across the beltway?

From the news reports I saw, the kids' route took them across Georgia Ave. at a point where it expands to six lanes.

Yes, Georgia Avenue. It is a major road, not a highway. It has crosswalks about every block or so. It has shops and restaurants along the route the children walked, and many pedestrians in that area as well.

My own kids have walked in that area many times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well, I am sorry, but I don't understand why people find this outcome so shocking. The 10 year old is fine to go to the park by his/her self, but under MD law you can't have a child under 8 unsupervised, and a 6 year old child can't be supervised by a 10 year old. If you disagree with the law, lobby to have it changed, but this is not a new law.


Actually, that is NOT what the law says.
The law that you are referring to only applies to confined areas like a house or car. There is no specific law for the age of kids out in the world.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmStatutesText....ml&session=2015RS&tab=subject5

§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 earthly sense would it make to allow children under 8 to be out on the street alone walking for a mile but not alone in their own home? Again, if you don't agree that this should be the case, you can ask Maryland to change it.

The language is very specific. It specifically excludes the out of doors. Had these children been walking home from school, it would have been a none-issue.

If you want to change the law to include children walking around out in the world, then ask Maryland to change it.

[Anonymous]

The law was involved the minute someone called in a complaint (and then when it happened again, as in the case of this family.)

OP and PPs, you don't have to agree with the agency decision. But based on the law and based upon the varying opinions of other parents, the agency decision was not unreasonable. There is legal justification and there is evidence sufficient to convince at least some people (including me, as the parent of a 6yo and 10yo) that there were legitimate safety issues involved and legitimate concerns about parental responsibility. The ruling is a symbolic one in any case.