Anonymous wrote:Japan is generally better than the US. Value statement.
German too.

Depends on what you want. I've lived in all three and prefer the US.

Oh, I felt bad for the crying boy. He wasn't ready, why push it?

It's ironic that kids had more freedom in the 60's and 70's then they do now. I ran errands for my parents in that era. Frequently bought them cigarettes (whether that is good of course is debatable).

My daughter is reading Beverly Cleary books, set in the 60's. Henry as an 8 year old enjoys tremendous freedom -- rides the bus alone, stays home alone. No more.

Omg. Soooo cute!!!

Japan is generally better than the US. Value statement.
German too.

Haha, this is adorable! It makes me giggle that kids running errands is a tv show though.

With lots of reliable, clean public transportation and a society that more highly values being a good community member vs. individual identity, Japan is better suited for this kind of freedom for children. Not making a value statement - there are pluses and minuses to each type of society.

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/09/why-are-little-kids-in-japan-so-independent/407590/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's safe in the US, we are just afraid to let them do it.

At that age? Yeah, I'd be scared for my kids. Besides, you can get delivery, thanks to Amazon and Google Express. With MS/HS age, it's a different story: kids have more awareness of safety and money and are less likely to be fooled by strangers. Better to wait a few years.

But the people in Japan aren't scared for their kids because...?

I'm more worried about my child getting hit by a car when she doesn't pay attention to her surroundings. She's ADHD and she's really just not responsible enough for me to send her on such a trip. My parents would have had zero problem letting me do these things, though - I was very responsible at a young age.

Anonymous wrote:It's safe in the US, we are just afraid to let them do it.

At that age? Yeah, I'd be scared for my kids. Besides, you can get delivery, thanks to Amazon and Google Express. With MS/HS age, it's a different story: kids have more awareness of safety and money and are less likely to be fooled by strangers. Better to wait a few years.

It's safe in the US, we are just afraid to let them do it.

Anonymous wrote:If this were Montgomery County, CPS would be investigating.

Pretty much anywhere in the US.

If this were Montgomery County, CPS would be investigating.

I was 4 the first time I ran to the post office and store for my family. I think I was 6 the first time I went to the bank. All of them were less than 2 blocks away in a small town, but it was completely normal to me.

Caught a bit of this on Youtube. Basically it's a Japanese TV show called "My First Errand" or something like that, and it profiles Japanese kids age 3-6 or so who are sent out by their parents to run errands for the family. Apparently in Japan it's a rite of passage for a toddler to be sent out for an errand for the family, and the sight of a very young child on their own running tasks around the city is not that uncommon.

Here is a cute, partially subtitled version of a brother and sister doing the grocery shopping. Made me a bit sad knowing that it isn't quite as safe to do this in the USA.