quote:
I was in Seattle some months ago and I saw something I have not seen in the South in decades, it was abut 3 PM, and I noticed there were school aged kids all the way from 6 or 7 years old to teenagers walking everywhere, it seemed very odd to me, and then I realized school had let out and these kids were all walking home from school.

I didn't walk home that young, but in junior high we'd walk a few miles home from school. Was really fun.

Remember that lady a few years ago that caught flak for letting her little boy ride the NYC subway alone? She has a blog: Free Range Kids

Judging by the few stories in this thread and what I remember from my own childhood, it seems that those of us who grew up in the 80s had a lot more freedom than the kids of today.

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Posted by Salmon

On the trails

Member since Feb 2008

83630 posts

Posted on 6/25/14 at 11:41 am to uway

quote:
Judging by the few stories in this thread and what I remember from my own childhood, it seems that those of us who grew up in the 80s had a lot more freedom than the kids of today.

and just looking at crime stats compared to the 80s and 90s, kids today are much safer so we should let them enjoy more freedom

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Posted by Doldil

The Ham

Member since Jan 2010

6214 posts

Posted on 6/25/14 at 12:00 pm to uway

I started walking to school in 2nd grade, but that was because you could cut through a yard in the neighborhood in to the schools nature trail/back yard. No having to deal with major streets or anything like that.

I really don't remember having off limit areas as a kid growing up. We left the first house in the summer going in to second grade...so I was 6-7 at the time and remember running all over that neighborhood with the neighborhood kids. We were out exploring the woods and playing street hockey/baseball/football and stuff in the new neighborhood the moment we landed. As we grew older our range extended to other neighborhoods where some of the close school/soccer friends lived. It was great.

Where I live now I see some kids out roaming and probably wouldn't have any problem with it, but that's easier said than done