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[quote=Anonymous]NP here. I was born in 1975 and grew up in SE DC. At age 5 I walked 1/2 mile to/from school everyday...sometimes with the other kids on our street, sometimes just me and my 1-2 cousins and sometimes me by myself. Its now 2015 folks...and I'm still alive and kicking at almost 40. Nothing catastrophic happened.

As a matter of fact, it was not only common for elementary-aged city kids to walk home without adult supervision, some of us (me included) had no supervision once we got there. By first grade I had a key to my house. I let myself in when I got home from school, locked the door behind me and called one of my parents at work to let them know I was home. I think the label given at that time was "latchkey kids" and it was perfectly legal. I was able to unlock the door, lock it back, not let anyone in the house, use the REAL phone to dial my parents work numbers from my own memory (no contact list or speed dial) get myself a snack and watch TV for an hour or so until one of my parents came home. When I got to 3rd grade we moved and my school was no longer in walking distance from our house...so my parents got me student bus tokens and taught me how to catch the bus to/from school....and again, it was perfectly legal, perfectly normal and turned out to be perfectly fine.

This helicopter parenting thing has got to stop. I mean, seriously folks, there is way too much kid coddling going on these days and people need to (gulp)....get a grip. Denying kids the chance to ever think for themselves or being the parent that is ever-present on the sidelines just waiting for the slightest little mishap to take place just so you can "fix" it, can be just as detrimental as the boogey man that many seem to think is lurking in the neighborhood park.

I have children too and I do ensure their safety, but teaching some level of independence is part of my job description and I think allowing school-aged kids to play at the playground near their house is a fine way to encourage independence. A common sense approach and compromise are in order here....lets hope this family can work with MD authorities to find one. 
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