What age is too young...

[gsoda3 3262]

... for a kid to walk alone.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-moms-arrest-puts-free-range-parenting-back/story?id=116004039

 

Quote

Georgia mom's arrest puts free-range parenting back into spotlight

Brittany Patterson was arrested after her son walked a mile by himself.

 

BySally Hawkins, Paulina Tam, Kelsey Klimara, Laura Coburn, and Doc Louallen

November 21, 2024, 5:04 AM

•  

 

 

7:49

Social media firestorm over free-range kids

A Georgia mom was arrested in front of her children, after her 10-year-old walked alone to the store.

 

A mother in Georgia has sparked national debate about how much freedom a child should have when she was arrested after her 10-year-old son was found walking alone.

Brittany Patterson was captured on police body cam video being handcuffed and taken into custody after her 10-year-old son left home alone and was found walking in their small town of Mineral Bluff.

"I was shocked, surprised, disbelief," Patterson, 41, said. "Couldn't really understand what was going on or why. "They told me to put my hands behind my back and then I had to ask to tell my children goodbye."

 

A Georgia mother of four was arrested after her son walk a mile by himself.

ABCNews.com

Patterson was charged with reckless conduct, which ignited a nationwide debate about child independence. After her arrest, the Georgia mother of four made headlines.

People everywhere, including on talk shows, social media and news networks, discussed the appropriate age for children to do things independently.

 

"If any parent has read any of the Beverly Cleary books Ramona or Henry Huggins, those kids were roaming the neighborhood in a way that we would call free range now," parenting expert Dawn Friedman said. "We used to allow children some freedoms that we no longer allow them. And I don't think that's to their benefit or to ours."

 

MORE: Parenting style can significantly influence a child's mental health, new study finds

 

 

"The crime was that she didn't know where her kid was for a little while because she'd left them at home," blogger and co-founder of “Let Grow” Lenore Skenazy said. "And to her surprise, he didn't stay home. It's just so normal. And to make that into a crime is insane."

Patterson's ordeal began when she left home in late October to take one of her older children to the doctor. Her younger son, Soren, who was nearly 11 at the time, stayed home.

Later that day, the Fannin County Sheriff's Office reported that Soren, who is now 11, walked less than a mile into town to visit the local Dollar General store.

Authorities found him walking alone after a concerned resident called police. Police took Soren, who was unharmed, home, but a few hours later they returned and arrested Patterson in front of her children.

 

The warrant claims she "...willingly and knowingly endangered her juvenile son's bodily safety." David Delugas, Patterson's attorney, disputes this.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are typically ready to walk alone safely without adult supervision at age 10.

Delugas says that Patterson did not engage in any illegal activities.

Patterson has declined to sign a "safety plan" proposed by Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services, which included using a GPS tracking app on her son's phone.

"If you call a document a safety plan, maybe what's in it ought to make the child more safe," Delugas said. "And by the way, that assumes he was unsafe in the first place, which he was not. Part of why Brittany declines to sign it is he wasn't unsafe."

 

Last month, the Surgeon General issued an advisory regarding the high levels of stress experienced by parents. The report highlights that 41% of parents feel so stressed on most days that they struggle to function, while 48% report their stress is overwhelming compared to other adults. It notes that the demands on their time and concerns about their children's safety can contribute to this stress.

"I mean, parenting never had to be 24/7 until now," Skenazy said. "I don't blame the parents. I blame this culture that talks endlessly about the impact of every parenting decision in every atom of their kids being."

Skenazy can relate to Patterson's story. Back in 2008, she also divided the country when she let her 9-year-old son take the subway by himself in New York City and published an article about it.

She didn't expect the backlash that followed, but at times was labeled as "America's Worst Mom."

"I finally realized that that was my real crime, was trusting my kid to do something without me," Skenazy said. "Being independent, being out in the world. That was the charge against me."

 

Skenazy, 17 years later, says she stands by supporting anyone's choice to prioritize their children's independence, believing that independence fosters trust.

"If you actually let your kid do something by themselves: you let them walk to the store, you let them walk the dog, you let them make the pancakes," Skenazy said. "You're allowed to be imperfect if that's what we're going to call it because perfection has never been a requirement for being a parent or a kid."

In Texas there's no law stating how old a child has to be to be left alone at home.  We started leaving our kids alone around 5 to make quick trips to the library to return books (1/4 mile away) and around 7 to drop the other kids off at daycare etc.  We let our three oldest kids (13, 12, 10) walk to the library or bike around the 10 miles of trails in our neighborhood.  I've let them bike to soccer practice (1 mile on the trails)- their school's closer than that.  This is crazy to me.

[High Plains Drifter 11049]

 

So, after she was arrested, were her children left home, alone?

 

When I was in fourth grade, so I guess about 9 yrs old, I had to get myself and my 7 year old sister up in time to eat breakfast, get dressed, and walk to the bus stop, because we lived so far out in the sticks that my parents had to leave before we were even up. 

Then we would walk home from the bus stop to an empty house and be unsupervised for a couple hours until my parents got home. 

 

[Incredulity 11674]

IMPO between 8-12 depending on the kid and the specifics of "the walk"

[RDCanecutter 26445]

I figured once my boy was strong enough to break the chain keeping him in the pit out back, then there weren't no harm in him wanderin because he was likely the meanest cuss in the neighborhood.

[crash_davis 23113]

So Free Range Parenting never got accepted, I see.

[Dahobbs 17534]

10 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

... for a kid to walk alone.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-moms-arrest-puts-free-range-parenting-back/story?id=116004039

 

In Texas there's no law stating how old a child has to be to be left alone at home.  We started leaving our kids alone around 5 to make quick trips to the library to return books (1/4 mile away) and around 7 to drop the other kids off at daycare etc.  We let our three oldest kids (13, 12, 10) walk to the library or bike around the 10 miles of trails in our neighborhood.  I've let them bike to soccer practice (1 mile on the trails)- their school's closer than that.  This is crazy to me.

I took the bus every day to and from school starting at 3rd grade (so roughly 10?). My parents would be working when I got home, so I was by myself for 2 or 3 hours every day. Our house wasn't really near anything to go to, but I would take our dog for a walk for at least a half mile fairly regularly. 

I'd trust my 8-year old at home alone right now (but he has no interest in that level of independence). 

I really can't imagine there being a jury that would convict on this unless there are some other bad facts out there. 

[OneOfTheOutOfFocusGuys 2078]

I was in the mines since I was seven. 

[texasdago 7573]

I think when I was 11 or 12 I would walk about 1/2 a mile to Sav-on Drugs by crossing two major roads to go buy baseball cards.  

[Incredulity 11674]

1 minute ago, RDCanecutter said:

I figured once my boy was strong enough to break the chain keeping him in the pit out back, then there weren't no harm in him wanderin because he was likely the meanest cuss in the neighborhood.

congrats on raising Conan

 

[MAUFRAIS 6629]

My first grader rides his bike to and from school. I guess I’ll get ready to kick ass or become a bitch.

[workswithseed 2109]

4 minutes ago, OneOfTheOutOfFocusGuys said:

I was in the mines since I was seven. 

Children yearn for the mines.

[NorthLoop 14205]

I hope she sued the fuck out of that dept

[gsoda3 3262]

13 minutes ago, High Plains Drifter said:

 

So, after she was arrested, were her children left home, alone?

 

The police put her in the squad car and they didn't leave the property until the grandma came.  

 

I found the body cam video of the arrest but can't figure out how to plop it into my post.  Just surreal. 

https://www.thefp.com/p/her-son-went-for-a-walk-she-was-charged

 

 

 

 

[RDCanecutter 26445]

4 minutes ago, texasdago said:

I think when I was 11 or 12 I would walk about 1/2 a mile to Sav-on Drugs by crossing two major roads to go buy baseball cards.  

When I was 5 I would walk "alone" a couple of blocks to Kindergarten, while my mom stayed in our yard and confirmed that I was stopping and looking both ways at streets. They were very un-busy streets but good training.

Elementary school I either walked or rode bike about 2/10s of a mile, cop at crossing, no big whoop. By age 9 for sure I was walking alone to Mr. Griffin's store, about 1/2 mile away by road, but I'd cut that in half by ducking down the railroad tracks.

Savagery.

[Gene Parmesan 4007]

I think the schools where I live allow walkers/bike riders as early as 2nd grade.  They'd also allow K and 1st grade to walk if they had an older sibling.  The school also isn't verifying that there is a parent home either.  By 10 they should be allowed to pick up a sixer on their way home so it's nice and cold when I get off work.

[Brisketexan 105143]

Yeah....there was 16 acres of open land, backing up to a bayou, behind my childhood home.  We never fenced our backyard, so the whole thing was "my backyard."  I was wandering freely there by age 6 or 7.  My mother had a bell on the back porch she could ring loudly enough that I could hear it no matter where I was.  That was enough "parental supervision" for us both to be comfortable.  Every now and then, I did something stupid and got hurt and had to limp a long way back home, bleeding/stung/covered in mud, whatever.  Tough shit, that's what I had to do.

And yeah, was riding my bike all over the neighborhood by the time I was 8.  I'ma go full Gen-X here and lament that we are a nation of soft wussies.

[elfenix 34243]

19 minutes ago, workswithseed said:

Children yearn for the mines.

[InkaUtexas 25946]

Shit, I used to ride by bike all around Penn State. Fortunately I was ugly, quick, new short cuts, and my brother told me what frats and sports offices to stay away from.

 

[ztejas 43452]

31 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

I figured once my boy was strong enough to break the chain keeping him in the pit out back, then there weren't no harm in him wanderin because he was likely the meanest cuss in the neighborhood.

They grow up so fast.

[ztejas 43452]

16 minutes ago, Gene Parmesan said:

By 10 they should be allowed to pick up a sixer on their way home so it's nice and cold when I get off work.

And if they forget to put it in the fridge well that's what cigarette burns are for.

[gsoda3 3262]

5 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

Shit, I used to ride by bike all around Penn State. Fortunately I was ugly, quick, new short cuts, and my brother told me what frats and sports offices to stay away from.

 

did you ever successfully lure in any kids with your paleta cart?

[Braff Zacklin 13575]

38 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

I figured once my boy was strong enough to break the chain keeping him in the pit out back, then there weren't no harm in him wanderin because he was likely the meanest cuss in the neighborhood.

Ah, yes, another one of those "if he can break the chain, he can break the rules" enablers.

It's all fun and games until he shows back up with a kaiser blade.

[tomahawk dunk 339]

Thought this was going to be a Matt Gaetz thread when I saw the title.

[Prepuce of Doom 21074]

If there isn't more to this story, those cops should be hung in the town square. 

[Firemans4Horn 18050]

ACAB

[hookemATL 11736]

31 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Yeah....there was 16 acres of open land, backing up to a bayou, behind my childhood home.  We never fenced our backyard, so the whole thing was "my backyard."  I was wandering freely there by age 6 or 7.  My mother had a bell on the back porch she could ring loudly enough that I could hear it no matter where I was.  That was enough "parental supervision" for us both to be comfortable.  Every now and then, I did something stupid and got hurt and had to limp a long way back home, bleeding/stung/covered in mud, whatever.  Tough shit, that's what I had to do.

And yeah, was riding my bike all over the neighborhood by the time I was 8.  I'ma go full Gen-X here and lament that we are a nation of soft wussies.

yeah but i bet you weren't cute enough as a kid to abduct/molest so the pedos steered clear.  that's fuckin' privilege right there.

[Brisketexan 105143]

yeah but i bet you weren't cute enough as a kid to abduct/molest so the pedos steered clear.  that's fuckin' privilege right there.

I was adorable.
Got whomped with the ugly stick in middle school.

[hookemATL 11736]

Just now, Brisketexan said:

I was adorable.

 "NUH UH I TOTTTTTTTTTTTTTALLLY COULDA GOT MOLESTED. I WAS SUPPLE AS FUCK!!!"

[gsoda3 3262]

8 minutes ago, Prepuce of Doom said:

If there isn't more to this story, those cops should be hung in the town square. 

I want to know who signed that warrant.  

[Bevo 13577]

53 minutes ago, MAUFRAIS said:

My first grader rides his bike to and from school. I guess I’ll get ready to kick ass or become a bitch.

 

why not both?

[0xdeadbeef 1651]

I was a Gen-Xer and I roamed far and wide, but...  My kids, who are now in their 20s, had permission to take off and roam, but they didn't.  I'll go as far to say they wouldn't. 

I think part of it is society has just changed.  The internet makes us more aware of dangers, even small and unlikely ones,  kids have video games and instant access to movies and things that Gen-Xers never had. 

You don't have to be a sociologist to realize that part of my early motivation in learning to bike across town was the SI Swimsuit edition.   When you get 4 channels on TV, and not even a Sears catalog, a 5 mile bike ride to Borders was not a problem.  Kids (boys) these days lack any such motivation. 

[Herpa Derpa 6126]

Walk on with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone.

[Rex Kramer 1338]

If there’s grass on the field, play ball. 

[kevwun 15789]

I was running around the woods behind our house with a .22 when I was 6 or 7.

[texasdago 7573]

45 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

did you ever successfully lure in any kids with your paleta cart?

Horchata paleta FTW

[royiv 9319]

My best friend and I roamed the mean streets of Tarrytown on bikes all day. Many a patty melt was consumed at the Holiday House. The real game changer was when we figured out the Cap Metro line that went down Pecos. When that happened, it opened up a whole new world of exploration downtown. We would wander the Capitol building finding hidden corridors and walk the street of downtown making sure we were home by dark. It really was a great time to grow up. No helicopter parents, freedom to explore, build confidence and independence. At the same time, we caught the leading edge of the digital revolution such by the time we were in college usage of the internet and email was commonplace.

[DaysOff 7951]

Legally, I used 10 because that's the last age to get out of jury duty.

[Armybrat 40849]

Between age 5 & 10 I roamed solo all over Fort Brooke inside the walls of El Morro in Puerto Rico. 
Obviously no worries there 
Ran around with my older brothers before that when we were posted at Fort Sam, Camp Hood, & Fort Leavenworth.

Fort Brooke was an ideal place to play pirates in the early 1950s - our quarters were right center in the trees.

Edited Thursday at 09:07 PM by Armybrat

[InkaUtexas 25946]

3 minutes ago, Armybrat said:

Between age 5 & 10 I roamed solo all over Fort Brooke inside the walls of El Morro in Puerto Rico. 
Obviously no worries there 
Ran around with my older brothers before that when we were posted at Fort Sam, Camp Hood, & Fort Leavenworth.

Fort Brooke was an ideal place to play pirates in the early 1950s - our quarters were right center in the trees.

I was just there. Similar age, mine was Spanish fort in Santo Domingo. Mom would drop me off at the Plaza the Armas and go to Drakes Pub on Saturdays (or the Lucky Seven) and me and a buddy would run the fort. Bad ass place.

[DaggerHorns 3085]

1 hour ago, royiv said:

My best friend and I roamed the mean streets of Tarrytown

You could’ve stopped there.

Next time, just say, “I’m softer than baby shit.”

[atomheartbevo 89674]

2 hours ago, MAUFRAIS said:

My first grader rides his bike to and from school. I guess I’ll get ready to kick ass or become a bitch.

Yeah, my kid's school here in Austin has a range of kids that walk/ride to school, although the younger kids are always accompanied by other kids or an older sibling.  We are also seeing kids in 5th grade and up on electric bikes going all over town now.  I think the kids just need to avoid the creeks/homeless camps.

My biggest concern as a parent if my middle-schooler is out-and-about, is assholes on cellphones blowing through stop signs/red lights.

[atomheartbevo 89674]

1 hour ago, 0xdeadbeef said:

I was a Gen-Xer and I roamed far and wide, but...  My kids, who are now in their 20s, had permission to take off and roam, but they didn't.  I'll go as far to say they wouldn't. 

I think part of it is society has just changed.  The internet makes us more aware of dangers, even small and unlikely ones,  kids have video games and instant access to movies and things that Gen-Xers never had. 

Yep, my middle-schooler would rather stay home and play Minecraft online with his friends. *sigh*

1 hour ago, 0xdeadbeef said:

You don't have to be a sociologist to realize that part of my early motivation in learning to bike across town was the SI Swimsuit edition.   When you get 4 channels on TV, and not even a Sears catalog, a 5 mile bike ride to Borders was not a problem.  Kids (boys) these days lack any such motivation. 

For those younger kids not lucky enough to have a local porn fairy leaving porn hidden in the woods, or behind convenience stores or in the ceiling of the 6th grade boys bathroom, stall #2, the SI Swimsuit Edition was a crucial part of our childhood.

[royiv 9319]

10 minutes ago, DaggerHorns said:

You could’ve stopped there.

Next time, just say, “I’m softer than baby shit.”

Okay, tough guy. 

[Hate 20108]

We raised our son similar to the way we were raised (Gen X). He had a cell phone which made it easy track his movements or to reach him to get him home. I’ve never understood the helicopter parent bullshit. There has never been a safer time for kids to be “free range”. 

[Kel Varnsen 8460]

I was expecting something different when I clicked on this thread.

[MissingInAction 25078]

1 minute ago, Kel Varnsen said:

I was expecting something different when I clicked on this thread.

[jimmyjazz 45957]

10?  Holy crap, my friends and I were riding our bikes miles and miles from home by that age.  Not uphill, not in the snow, but still.

That's ridiculous.

[CooterBrown 18013]

3 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

And yeah, was riding my bike all over the neighborhood by the time I was 8.  I'ma go full Gen-X here and lament that we are a nation of soft wussies.

I don't know shit about fuck in other neighborhoods but our kids and hundreds of other kids bike around Allandale without supervision every day.  Pretty everyone I know keeps track of their location by Apple Watch but they still have freedom to bike around.

[Dnaguy 11964]

3 hours ago, hookemATL said:

yeah but i bet you weren't cute enough as a kid to abduct/molest so the pedos steered clear.  that's fuckin' privilege right there.

 

3 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

I was adorable.
Got whomped with the ugly stick in middle school.

[Not a cat 5657]

At 9 or 10 we would ride our bikes on a busy highway a couple of miles to get to the fireworks stand.  Then  see who could light them and throw it in the air with just enough wick left so it would explode in the air and rain confetti.  Whenever one of our parents saw this they'd give us a stern lecture along the lines of "hey be careful"

I'm with these other parents that are amazed their kids never really grabbed that freedom.  About 2 weeks before my daughter was set to leave for college, she begged for permission to take a road trip to visit a friend that had already enrolled in school.  I just said "why are you asking me stupid shit, you're 18, just always have a sober driver."