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^^THIS. Exactly. People are the same. There have always been child predators. There's just more media coverage about it and it scares parents.
Hard to say.
There has been one or two guys trying to get 10-13yo girls into a vehicle within 2-3 miles of my house on and off for the last couple years.
AFAIK they remain uncaught.
Me personally, I believe in more child freedoms and that we coddle them too much. As a result, I don't really support this law.
However, the ludicrous claims of racism and other random stupidity are no better.
P.S. I rode to school myself at age 10 on a bike. I had my own GUN at age 11 and often shot it alone in the woods etc etc etc. I'm going to side with the parents on this one.
I honestly don't see what's wrong with letting your kids walk home from school. They're not walking through "the hood," with gunshots whizzing in the air. A lot of kids, though, in "the hood," walk to and from school. Some parents are more protective than others, and some are less protective. What's the big deal? I don't get it.
I walked to and from school for years. Granted, that was years ago. But so what? Kids can't always be contained like dogs. Sure, some parents would consider it dangerous. Obviously, some don't. Difference of opinion.
This is 2015. I remember when I was young and my big sisters and brothers watched me. That was a very long time ago. Times sure have changed since then. Any fool with a propensity toward violence on children could have had them for the taking. This is the not so safe America we live in now.
I see this as willful child neglect, leaving them unattended. To me its no worse than leaving your kids in a hot car to die.
A little over dramatic, don't you think?
At 10 years old, I would think a kid could handle going to a park close by their home unsupervised, and possibly watch a 6 yr old, depends on whether the 6 yr old is smart and well behaved or not.
Your own circumstances are also different than mine. If I lived in an inner city area somewhere, then I would not allow my kids to go to the park by themselves. I don't know where you live, but where I live, violent crime/kidnappings are basically non existent. We have a security patrol in the neighborhood. It is a very safe area. As such, I would have no problem letting a 10 yr old go to the park down the street.
What I find troubling is the actions of CPS. Let's face it, they screw up big time, a LOT of times. How often have we read in the news about abused children, where CPS was aware of a situation, but did nothing, or failed to follow up? There are a lot of dead kids who CPS has failed miserably, and to then go and harass a family who have raised one child to 10 and another to age 6 with no problems (except for repeated harassment by CPS)... I have to side with the family on this one.
At 10 years old, I would think a kid could handle going to a park close by their home unsupervised, and possibly watch a 6 yr old, depends on whether the 6 yr old is smart and well behaved or not.
Your own circumstances are also different than mine. If I lived in an inner city area somewhere, then I would not allow my kids to go to the park by themselves. I don't know where you live, but where I live, violent crime/kidnappings are basically non existent. We have a security patrol in the neighborhood. It is a very safe area. As such, I would have no problem letting a 10 yr old go to the park down the street.
What I find troubling is the actions of CPS. Let's face it, they screw up big time, a LOT of times. How often have we read in the news about abused children, where CPS was aware of a situation, but did nothing, or failed to follow up? There are a lot of dead kids who CPS has failed miserably, and to then go and harass a family who have raised one child to 10 and another to age 6 with no problems (except for repeated harassment by CPS)... I have to side with the family on this one.
I lived in an inner city. You at least agree that having reared children in an inner city can be a little bit of a problem for "free ranging." No way. If I didn't live in an inner city, I wouldn't let my children be a mile away from me at any given time at these ages unless they're in school or some place, I can go pick them up.
I'm not siding with CPS. Not once did I make mention of being on their side. It is this parenting style that I take issue with. At ten years and twelve years maybe I'd feel better, but not 6 and 10.
My parenting style wasn't so bad. I have well rounded adult children today.
I honestly don't see what's wrong with letting your kids walk home from school. They're not walking through "the hood," with gunshots whizzing in the air. A lot of kids, though, in "the hood," walk to and from school. Some parents are more protective than others, and some are less protective. What's the big deal? I don't get it.
I walked to and from school for years. Granted, that was years ago. But so what? Kids can't always be contained like dogs. Sure, some parents would consider it dangerous. Obviously, some don't. Difference of opinion.
How do you know what neighborhood these children come from?
That's why I leave my kids in a hot car with the windows rolled up. It's safer than leaving them 20 miles out to sea with seal meat and 20lb weights strapped to them.
Here lies logic. RIP.
Apparently you are unable to recognize irony.
This is irony because it is true that pedophiles are mostly well-known to their victims, and are mostly relatives.
Yet the presumed danger from pedophiles is what the poster was citing as THE number one reason why children are "not safe" at public parks.
It is a fact that they are far more likely to encounter said pedophile at home than at a public park.
I lived in an inner city. You at least agree that having reared children in an inner city can be a little bit of a problem for "free ranging." No way. If I didn't live in an inner city, I wouldn't let my children be a mile away from me at any given time at these ages unless they're in school or some place, I can go pick them up.
Sounds like your experience being raised in the inner city has molded your thought process to agree with a more helicopter parenting style/authority needs to control parenting that was once considered just part of "growing up as a kid" for many. Remember many other kids, including myself, grew up in suburbia with very low crime and see things differently.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ErnieG
My parenting style wasn't so bad. I have well rounded adult children today.
If you're kids are truly independent, self-sustaining, don't call on mom and/or dad for every little decision/thing in life yet you used a more "helicopter" approach to your parenting, I think you're fortunate your kids came out ok. Many kids that grow up with parents hovering all over them, not letting kids grow/learn/and fail more on their own often turn into something less ideal....."dependent/I can't think on my own/make a decision on my own type "adults" because they were never taught to do these basics growing up.
No one said twenty one. But not 6 and ten. I'd feel better (me personally) at twelve. Certainly NOT ten years old to tend to a six year old.
So who gets to decide the magic age when it's safe to play outside without mom and dad hovering? A 12 year old can be kidnapped just like a 10 year old can. Should we keep all children locked inside until age 18?
Or can we just let parents be parents and decide what THEY feel their children are capable of?
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