@@phillipp5538 I mean, OP is right. We have to ask why it's not safe anymore in North America. I point to mass migration from non-compatible cultures as that's really the only thing that changed.
It was the mass hysteria of Stranger Danger. Parents thought a predator lurked around every corner waiting to get their kid. In reality the vast majority of abductions and molestation were family members or family friends. Not strangers. But the media got us all in a frenzy.
Literally mentioned in this clip with video footage. And you probably found out about her from Stossels previous video, which featured the mom and also showed this lady.
And the government is so perversely authoritarian they punished her and even forced her to write a groveling apology for having her kid walk outside alone and putting him "in danger".
And after dinner, you had to be home within a few minutes after the streetlights came on. We used to travel hours on the bus to do various activities, go to the Zoo, roller rink, walking around the park to look at the hippies, whatever.
yep. hey mom im gonna ride my bike down to the river and run around on the trails by it. or go swim in the pond. or play in the little creek by us. or ride bike few miles out to lake on highway and ride trails. got to point i just went without saying anything. my sister and me road bikes 10 miles to next town and back in 90s without telling parents, having phone or gps or map. we often road out to the outskirts of town and back. 1 day we got to our turn around spot and was like you wanna keep going. like if we have problems we will go to a near by farm house or flag a car down and theyll help us. we made it to next town and celebrated. took more traveled highway back. started sprinkling as we road past lake getting back to our town. as kids we went around town selling christmas cards to get toys this 1 company was doing. candy sales in school.
It was on the local news, a kid had to walk home a mile after his mom kicked him out of the car for being bad. The police were upset after a neighbor called them
@@bansheezs My grandpa would threaten me to get out and walk home sometimes when we were in the countryside. I was a trouble maker. Not sure what I did but I was maybe 7 or 8?. I can remember it in pieces. One time he actually stopped and I got out. That shocked him. I just started walking because I knew the way to get home. It was a LONG walk if I completed it. But he eventually came back and got me back in the car. He had to get more creative after that :P
I live in Vienna in Austria and it's still pretty normal for kids to walk to school alone once they are 7 or 8 years old (it used to be 6 when I was going to school). Ever since the Natascha Kampusch abduction that happened close to where I live, the school has an obligation to call the parents if a child fails to show up in the morning... When talking about this horrible case, what stood out to me was that Natascha was the only girl in her class who wasn't allowed to walk to school alone yet. The first time her Mum finally let her, at 10 years old, she describes feeling overwhelmed because everything was new. And when she saw a strange guy standing next to a white van on the side of the road, her gut feeling told her to cross to the other side, but she didn't because she thought she was just panicking on her first day of walking alone and couldn't trust her feelings.
shes right about that neighborhood where kid walked home alone. there should be 100 kids out walking, riding bikes, scooters, skate boards, basketball, etc.
One of the main reasons why I picked my current apartment was that when I was outside ringing the bell, a group of kids showed up ringing another bell asking "Can Max come out and play?"
This is possibly one of the best John Stossel videos I have watched. And it’s all common sense. Something that most people in the United States, and certainly our politicians, have gotten away from. I walked to school by myself when I was in first grade. It wasn’t just a means to getting to school, it was an adventure every morning. There were workmen who were pouring concrete, houses being built, neighborhood adults out cutting the grass and I could visit with them, utility men climbing up poles, etc. It was all very exciting and an adventure.
I walked to the bus stop and home in 1st grade, it was pretty far. When my siblings were my age (I'm the youngest by 9 years) they lived close to their elementary school and they all walked to school and home in kindergarten. My oldest has been playing alone in the fenced in yard since he was 4. And people have said things about it!
"And it's all common sense". The heck you say. The problem is that we have lost common sense. That's what underpins many of our ills. Saying things like "men can get pregnant" and not being allowed to challenge this is why we have lost common sense. Being called by a neighbor for allowing your children to run around the yard or neighborhood further contributes to an erosion of common sense. We are becoming finger wagging, busy body, spying-on-each-other @ssholes in this 21st century nation.
What a wonderful and well grounded woman, we need more like her. I also find it so frustrating that that one mom was arrested for letting her child outside alone. 😡
I agree with everything she's saying. I'm a boomer, and we was EXPECTED to be outside and to not come back until "the street lights came on!" I remember coming in to get a drink of water and my mom saying "stop running in and out!" Ahh those were the days! Can I get a witness... Kids today, head down in a screen.. SMH
I used to sneak books outside because I didn't want to run around till the street lights came on... but I certainly wasn't welcome inside so I just found a quiet spot like a tree to read my book until I was allowed to come home ;-)
At 5 I used to go to the store 5 blocks away to buy cigarettes for an elderly neighbor. She'd give me a $10 bill, I'd buy her a carton and got to keep the change, which was almost $2!!
I used to buy my smokes at the local Mini Mart on base in North Carolina. I think it was about 1982 I remember being ticked off when the price of a carton of cigarettes went from $1.25 to $1.50. No, really, I was mad. That is (was) a 16.67 % increase!
This woman is 💯 % spot on. I was a 1970's "latchkey kid" from kindergarten-on. Yes, I was bullied terribly for years, and had approximately a dozen abduction attempts on me by creepy men. But it all made me who I am today: fiercely independent, street smart, and resourceful. I can adapt to any sittuation and I fear no man. The resulting confidence and independence growing up that way has been invaluable throughout my entire life. Society today is so weak and the children are overly coddled. No wonder the world is collapsing inward like a soufflé.
I was a 70’s latch key kid also. We knew where we were aloud to go and not go. We had chores to accomplish b4 mom got home. We had to call when we got to where we were going and when we left for home. The neighbors back then had permission to get on to us if we were doing wrong and would eat us out. I walked to school from 2nd grade to 6th grade. After that we moved too far from school and rode the bus. Proud to be a 70’s kid.
@@RobertSmith-lw2bxMy daughter was a fireman, her words not mine, who would work 24 off 24 for several days in a row. My 12 year old grandson who had grown up pretty much free range was going to stay alone overnight. Normally he would stay with us since we lived close by. I asked if he thought he could handle it. His response, “I have two dogs, two phones and two guns”. In my mind the perfect order of self defense. Being free range gave him a confidence that has stayed with him to this day.
I was an 80’s latch key kid. I never got in smelly Bobs van. Kids learned early and were strong for it. The things we did back then for fun like skitching in the winter at five years old. I'd go to the science museum alone, and biked everywhere. Played football in the park, soldered together circuits when I was five. Got an under the table job at seven to make some money folding pizza boxes. Crime was way higher back then. Freedom was great, and it is so sad that it is gone. That is why everybody is so soft now.
I have agreed with the comments this mom is making for the better part of 30 years. We have created children that would much rather be in their room playing video games as opposed to being outside and exploring their environment. My classic example is that when I was a child getting a new bicycle was the best thing you could get. Today’s children look at a bicycle as an activity. Like let’s ride around the block a few times. When I was younger my bicycle was a means to adventure.
Exactly, my bike was my transportation. My friend's and I would ride all around different neighborhoods meeting up with people from different schools we would meet and looking for cool woods to hangout in that might have trails with jumps built 😂 I miss the old days 👍🏻🍻
I am 75 years old and I walked to elementary school every school day. And who directed traffic so I could cross the street? A fifth or sixth grader on the safety patrol.
I was on the safety patrol in fourth grade. If there were enough kids, we would have eight covering an intersection (i.e. one for each side of a crosswalk). If not, we did our best to cover every direction from which a kid was coming. Now a days, you see a single adult trying to cover an entire intersection, ridiculous!
I think it's because with the vast and growing Internet the entire spectrum of stupidity is broadcast to us. So it's even more apparent. I think most people have never had common sense.
My kids are now adults under 25. I made sure they were able to have freedom as kids. They had a whole pack of kids they explored the neighborhood, the park, the woods, and the little creek with. They had a wonderful time like I did growing up. Now they are well adjusted and confident adults. Independence is so important!
Yep, mine are the same. Well adjusted and were honors students and athletes at the same time. They were always coached to make good choices. Very successful now.
There is a window in which giving this kind of freedom is exciting to the child. It’s from ~2 until ~11. If you miss it, it is an uphill battle to instill independence.
I never played video games and spent 95% of my free time outdoors playing in the country. It made me fiercely independent and self-sufficient. My dad made me help him build stuff and fix things. That got me ahead in the work force and i now own my own Electrical company. Thank you dad
It's sad that we even have the term " free range" kids. When we were young, it was just " kids". And now they have " free range kids", and it's literally an anomaly! Smh
I completely trust my daughter. I don’t trust other adults because there are so many who are mentally imbalanced. The adults who will call the police when they see my daughter walking to or home from school alone. It’s a shame…
She’s saying that that is where the police responsibility needs to kick in..” is the child in danger? Bleeding? Distressed? No? Feel free to call when something happens. “
@ right. And you saw how well that went for that mother. It is so easy for ne’er-do-well parents and poor judgement from police can literally tear your family apart. How much do you trust critical thinking skills in the general public? You know that’s been on a gradual decline the last couple decades, right?
@Guitarzan8 I can show you whole neighborhoods where parents don't watch their kids. Those kids usually end up in gangs and go on to commit violent crimes. Just because she let him walk to school doesn't mean she let him roam the rest of the time free.
The biggest threat to your kid is your government, bar none. There's the recent story of a mother who let her kid walk a block home and someone called the police. They jailed her and she got fired from her job. Public schools are also a huge danger. They can do awful things in secret without your consent.
When I see the kids in my neighborhood riding their bikes, walking around or playing basketball in the street, it makes me very happy! And they're all great kids! Can't wait for my kids to join them!
The difference is Japan is a high trust society, because they have a mono culture… American has become VERY different than when we were kids. While I agree with you in many ways, I wish we were like Japan… But we are not.
This comment is the truth, diversity and opening the floodgates to immigration in America of non-white and non-christian killed kids being allowed to be kids in the US. She got so close showing when this rise started and yes it was before cell phones or even home computers but it was directly tied to diversity. Comparing the USA to Japan will never work, we are flooded with more 3rd worlders by the day that come from races/culture/religions that view it as ok to sleep with or even beat a child to within an inch of their lives. Japan can have it because it's not been ruined by immigration and diversity.
Yes me too. About a mile to my school grade 1 onwards. (Not kindergarten). As an adult I later found out that I thought I was alone but my parents actually followed my to school in grade 1. Of course I got the hiding of my life in grade 3 when I was allowed to cycle to school and crossed on red traffic signal.
The only reason. I didn't walk to kindergarten. There was a very busy street to cross and no traffic lights. Yet, I had to cross the same street to go to the store for parents cigarettes.
What started this was Donahue, Oprah, Dr Phil that were discussing predators, and dysphoria pederists along with other fears...lots of fears... What it did was keep kids home, indoors and watching the cable kids shows on the new kids only networks... all afternoon and day. Those channels were owned by the same syndicates that aired the trash TV mom talk shows. Get it.
I have an extreme story. When I was 5 in 1960, living 20 miles NE of Atlanta, Ga and next to the railroad. So, one day it happened that a train stopped for some time. Well, being the kid that I was I managed to climb up on the side ladder of one of the cars, pretending that I was a conductor waving my imaginary lantern. Well, the train started moving. I had seen trains of that time would usually back up to gain slack in the couplings ( of course at the time I had no idea why they did it, I just knew they did ), and then go forward that familiar sound, clack, clack, clack, POW ! Better locomotives now, so that does not happen anymore. So, when the train started moving I expected it to stop, but it did NOT. It just got faster and faster, so rode 40 miles hanging on the side of that train. When it finally came to a stop, there was zero hesitation getting off. I started walking home, with no concept of how far away I was. As sunset approached a man saw me walking beside the highway and concerned asked me where I was going. He was floored when I told him, so he said, "Hop in. I'm going that way". Well, I knew when my parents found out, I would get the spanking of my life. So, I lied to the guy about which house was mine. As we pulled off the road, I bolted for the woods. That poor guy was probably terrified that he might get accused of something. I have no idea what became of it on his side. I also, knew if I told either of my siblings they would squeal on me and I would still get that spanking. So, I never told anybody until a couple of years after I was married , and I told my wife. So, naturally she called my mother and squealed on me.
crazy story! glad nothing happened to you. something like this happened to a couple at my church, but with a 4 year old girl, saddly, she got killed by the train
@@olivegrove-gl3tw That is sad. My son's friends tell him that he shouldn't be here, because I shouldn't be here. In my case, I was too scared for the train to get me. I wonder how many others have similar stories , or am I the only lucky freak to have survived such foolishness. Trains not needed. I also, survived Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and Desert Shield / Storm as a Marine. A lot more miracles used there saving my hide. And I am thankful for each and every one of them. Thanks for your comment.
When I grew up in Princeton Jct., NJ in the 70s and cut grass for money as an 11-year-old, I would tell my parents I was going to a friend's house for the day and would take the train to NYC. I loved to go to the Natural History Museum and the Hayden Planetarium.
Having been to Tokyo, Japan, it is nothing like the U.S., it is clean, it is orderly, people behave, it's just another world apart from the U.S. I was telling my kids that I was fine with them exploring on their own while we were there, and they did. I wouldn't encourage that if we were in San Franciso, L.A., Baltimore, Chicago, NYC, Houston, etc. and I grew up a "latch key kid" in the 1960's early 70's.
Where I live, the school buses pick up and drop off the kids at each house, even if the houses are right next to each other. This is so crazy. When I was a kid, and even my son, back in the 90’s, the kids were all picked up at the end of the block and all the kids in the neighborhood walked to and from the bus stop.
Supervise in some areas, don't supervise in others. Encourage independence and not do everything for them. A parent should be wise enough to guide kids not just let them grow up alone and make stupid mistakes that don't need to be made.
I grew up in a suburb of LA in the late 60’s early 70’s. My mom who was sort of over protective, allowed us to walk to the store and get bread and milk, candy, etc. I had one experience when I was 12 and walking home from school and someone wanted directions and asked me to come closer to their car, but I knew better. I allowed my children to play outside in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. I allowed my son to walk to the grocery store with cash and a list, walk home from the school bus, or from school. I had to work and I just asked for a phone call when they got home. I lived in areas that weren’t bad, but there were “pockets”, and the kids always knew their boundaries. I agree that sensible freedom is good: teaching your children to be aware of their surroundings. Kids don’t learn about how to function in life unless they do things on their own.
Another great interview, John, and I applaud Lenore for what she is doing. She's a reasonable voice in and increasingly unreasonable world. What I like to call 'safetyism,' a near compulsive obsession with safety at every conceivable level, has run amok in this country. I dealt with it constantly during my 33 career and it's showing up more and more in cases like this Texas woman being hauled off to jail, which is completely absurd. Having grown up during the '60's and '70's, it's not something I understand.
As an adult I don't want to ride the NY subway, no way I would let my kid ride. In a safer city like somewhere in Asia I 100% would though. NYC just is an s-hole
When I was 12 me and other kids made a trip to Times Square to a huge arcade , I remember it look like I was in a taxi driver movie 😮😢very awakening trip but I survive it along with the other kids
I think it does depend on the era in NY as there is a big difference depending on the year. Having been mugged about 4 times there is a few places where I would never allow my kids to go alone. On the other hand it is important for them to do certain things on their own. There are (and I'm to lazy to give you reference) that have found kids that are independent are considerably safer. Part of the reason is they learn how to identify dangers and create strategies to mitigate these dangers. While children that are not independent never learn these strategies and abilities and are at much higher risk even as teenagers. (I've worked with University students that was scared to walk on campus alone because of over protective parents. It took them almost a year to become independent enough to go to class alone.)
I grew up overseas in Thailand (a 3rd world country back in the 90s). I rode the bus home with my siblings in elementary, and in middle school, by myself. Deal to with the heat, congestion, crowds, but I was fine, and I learned independence and problem solving (walked when the bus was late). I’m thankful I was able to experience that.
It depends on the kid. When my son was 5 years old he was 100 lbs and 4ft tall and mature…. we let him play outside on our street with friends alone. He’s almost 7 now and he’s allowed to ride his bike around the block and to friend’s houses a few streets over. My 8 year old has autism and we don’t let him go anywhere by himself. You have to assess your children’s readiness per child.
In America, over-parenting is significantly shaped by a culture of scrutiny, largely driven by social media. Many parents live in fear of being publicly shamed, which fosters a **social fear-based system** that compels them to adhere to societal norms. This relentless pressure can overwhelm parents, pushing them to prioritize approval over their children’s independence. As a result, children's ability to self-govern is compromised, leading to adverse effects on their development in our digital world.
@@Guitarzan8No, it isn't. The dispatcher's job is to send officers to where a "problem" is reported. It is entirely up to the officer how they handle the situation once they get there.
I'm 66 years old, and I remember walking to school and doing all kinds of errands along with my sister's. My grandchildren have no confidence compared to what my daughter had.
@firstchoicefarm7767 Really? I'm more scared the cops who shoot kids playing in the park, on their own, and then drive away. But we won't talk about Tamir Rice being a free range kid now will we?
I'm a dad. I think it's sickening the way parents have collectively created a of helpless children who have little contact outside of their age bracket.
Please don't judge so quickly. As a parent, I do my best, but our neighborhood's streets are completely empty, and other kids are not allowed to play unsupervised, so my kids have no one to play with outdoors, and when they ask a friend to join them - the friend's parents almost always say no. So we gave up. It used to be much easier for parents, back when we were kids, because everybody else was doing it too... but times have changed. It's more about the culture of where you live, than about what you wish you had for your kids. Unfortunately.
@michalnanny1098 I don't mean it to be personal. But, yeah, you make my point: collectively we are on the wrong path. When you've been around the world and seen other cultures and you see that they allow their people and their families a lot more freedom than we have, there's something wrong.
Check the statitistics. This video showed violent crime overall nationwide is down. And I've heard that kidnapping is very rare (not counting a divorced parent taking their child).
@@architennis So you would take the chance based on statistics to let your children walk through the drug invested, crazy homeless people streets and feel safe?
@@rotart12arx3 I don't have kids. If I did I'd probably be wary of letting them loose in a big city, partly because I grew up in a safe suburb and don't know enough about cities. I think I would let them loose in the suburbs though. Assuming I didn't live in an area where I feared getting arrested for doing so!
Some years ago I spent a week in Tokyo. I saw children of kindergarten age in their uniforms riding the metro during rush hour every day. The thought of it happening in NYC is unimaginable.
Honestly, I don't think I would let my nine year old go many places alone. With a buddy, yes, but not alone. But, I was traumatized by a graphic stranger danger movie they made us watch in my elementary school in the early 70's, and later a child of a family we knew was abducted from a park, and their life was ended.
I agree with her. I don't know about letting a young child take the NY subway alone but I can see where allowing them to organize their own play can result in developing a sense of confidence by allowing them to have a measure of independence. In turn, it cuts down on the emotionally weak young people as we see today.
My parents had no idea where I was when I was a kid but I came home every evening for dinner. Today parents have their children leashed via iPhones tracking their locations and every moment of every single day. Parents also pass down their own anxiety to their kids because of this.
"It's no fun thinking your kids are going to be kidnapped." You know what's no fun? Calling the police every six moths to ask if they've found your child's body yet.
My youngest has severe food allergies. I believe that because he felt empowered, he grew up confident. I taught him how to use his epi pens and to let people know about his allergies. I didn't hover around him, even let him ride the school bus and eat in the school cafeteria WITH the students eating his allergens. He has zero anxiety over his life threatening medical conditions. Today, he's a confident leader. I gave him room to grow confident of himself.
My kid is nearly 6, and I got to teach her the old rule "Come home when the street lights come on". She loves being outside playing with the other kids in the neighborhood!
This woman is spot on ! I left the house when I was 5 or 6 years old . My mom rarely knew where my brothers and I were. It was in the 60’s . And we drank from garden hoses and didn’t wear bicycle helmets. 😬😁
Thank you for sharing this message. I heard about Free Range Kids from Jonathan Haight. I miss seeing kids in running free & laughing in neighborhoods.
I’m 63, back when I was a kid like 9 I missed my bus stop one day on way home from school, I didn’t get off the bus, by like 1/4 mile The bus driver made me ride all the way back to school then call my mom to come get me. By then my mom was freaked out. I was like mom relax I’m good. We lived in the country. No cell phones back then. That was just an unusual situation back then. The old be home at dusk, now go play with your friends. That was after dinner. We ate as a family back then too. 5 sharp. Man times have changed
What was wrong with that bus driver? He should let you get out the moment you realize you missed your stop and walk home. You’d probably never do it again because of that walk.
A lady I date teaches first grade at a charter school. She begins every school year by reading "The Ransom of Red Chief" -- and always loves to see the kids realize that they are so much like the kid in the story.
Her theory is sound UUUUNNNTIL you realize 22 million unvetted people from around the globe, most of whom do Not share the American value system, have been let into the country.
When i was in grade six back in the 80's i got a note from my mom stating i had an appointment and could leave a 11:00am. I hopped on a bus and went to the local university and went to a Gowan Concert at noon. It was 2 bucks to get in and I loved every second of it. I got his autograph too. I was 9 or 10 years old. My friend were not allowed to go so i went alone......Its crazy today as we must always be afraid of all those strange animals out there :)
My parents let me sign my own report card and return it to the teacher immediately when I was in grade school & college, and told me school was up tp me and not to bother them with it as it was my responsibility. I ended up with two STEM masters degrees and have a dozen patients. Kids now do not learn responsibility and just depend on the government!
For those of us who were kids in large families in the 1940's and 1950's, this is sanity. I feel sorry for kids who are helicopter-parented today. They fail to learn how to survive in various scenarios. No wonder they feel anxious and depressed. Incompetency in surviving reality is not a blessing.
There’s exceptions to every rule just because it didn’t happen to him doesn’t mean it won’t happen to other children and she should be charged with some form of negligence, you’re not allowed to leave a child home by themselves 16 or younger so why would you let one travel legally?
"I was ready for it." Is like a bad driver that thinks they're a good driver just because they haven't caused an accident YET. Just because you can find your way from one place to another doesn't mean you're prepared and safe. Kids do need more independence, but you have to balance that with the reality that the world is much more dangerous for children than it used to be. Our society has normalized mental disorder.
It is so rare to see common sense today that it has become a spectacle. This woman appears brilliant for speaking common sense. We need many more like her.
Who remembers the dinner bell? It existed because we were expected to be outside before dinner time - exploring, burning off energy, and even participating in a little healthy mischievousness - and then when mom would ring the dinner bell we were expected to be home and sit down and eat together.
What nosy neighbors need to remember is that having a parent taken away for letting a child walk home alone, will result in the child being alone and in actual danger!
Anecdotal point here but I was free to spend the weekend days on my own downtown from age 10 onwards. I made it ok but also I did and saw terrible things so she has the right general direction but is missing the piece where the world can change in a bad way you if you are young and not ready for it.
I would love to see a study on what age children learned to swim and ride a bicycle over the decades. I guarantee you we have a record number of high school kids. Who’ve never learned to swim or ride a bicycle.
This woman is speaking truth. Buddy and his wife micromanaged their kids life, out of fear they would be kidnapped or hurt. Took them everywhere, hovered over every gathering they attended. Both parents died kind of early, kids are both in 30's. Don't have drivers licenses, don't have jobs. Both depending on other people for their lives.
My job as a Dad is to keep my child safe and give her the tools to thrive at life. As she gets older and she gains skills and confidence, I spend less focus on safety and trust her to make smart choices.
@msromike123 meaning that when a toddler, I kept her safe. As she got older and more skilled, I pushed her toward more freedom. I don't know that if send my 6yo on a NYC subway, but I wouldn't stop anyone else from deciding that's right for them.
On the other hand 300,000 illegal migrant children are Missing. Human trafficking is a thing for them. Its not NONE or VERY COMMON but somewhere in the middle. If you are in a good neighborhood - risk is low. In THE HOODS? Risk is higher. Often times they just end up dead.
grandma was aghast at our son taking bus and walking to and from school... he was a Cub Scout & then a Boy Scout... explained to her that we send him out in the woods with a knife, water and fire to have fun... he graduated with his masters degree Summa Cum Laude in Aerospace Engineering.. it worked out.. being Gen X parents helped.. free range kids ourselves
We had friends that did not send their kids to school and let them do what ever they wanted. Run , play, learn etc. a 7 year old would often be holding her 2 year old baby sister walking outside in the street without supervision. On fair we thought this was in responsible. But I have to say that each and every one of their kids grew up to be respectful, capable, successful kids. Fully independent. I believe society pushes fear.
The motto of "it takes a village" is a load of crap. Keep fathers and mothers in the home, raise responsible kids, ensure they learn consequences. My kids are MY KIDS!
This depends on your environment and community. First of all we must strengthen community safety and let children be aware of dangers (drugs, Bad influencers, and etc.). This is how suburban parents do to there children until there were reports of missing children (There is always a predators on children). The most important is always tell your parents were you are going( to build trust and confidence),who are you with, what time you are coming back and always call your parents if you will be late or staying in your friends. Never ever lie to your family were you are and who you are with is so important(this is the reason many families are very worried, especially in our environment today).
I'm sorry you have depression. And...I'd like to see the statistics on this. I'd bet they'd show that things are more aligned with what this woman is saying.
@ you have to keep in mind, my generation went undiagnosed. Just like how it isn’t the case of suddenly there are more autistic kids, but that autistic kids in the past went undiagnosed. It was just as common but unseen. My generation, the generation that stayed outside most of the day, struggles with mental health now. I don’t think keeping your child safe and looked after is causing depression in them. I think more parents are paying attention to their children and getting them the help they need. Often times depression is a genetic issue and not environmental.
@@applepye1353 Good points but I still figure there's been an increase in depression and anxiety in young generations. If so, what has caused it isn't super easy to figure out. Some suggest it's smart phones and social media, others think it's not being allowed to have free play and exploration where they learn how to figure things out (socially with friends) by themselves versus having adults oversee every hour of their day. Or maybe it's in the water.
@ outside of it being a generic disorder, I do think social media plays a bigger part than not being free range. My son was born with depression. His digestive issues led to him having the chemical imbalance in his mind. He wouldn’t have done well if allowed to roam free because if he gets frazzled his ability to think clearly goes away. People don’t take kindly to children with disorders, seeing them as being spoiled or a result of bad parenting. My daughter doesn’t have those issues but I have kept her off social media. But I still wouldn’t have let her roam free because I know she has no sense of direction and her mind tends to wander. She’d get lost. My son is more reclusive but he has his friends. My daughter is eccentric and has a close group of friends. I don’t like these strict black and white statements. Would some children benefit to having more freedom? Absolutely. But it would be the wrong choice for others.
Protect your child from the world so when they're 18 they have no social skills or knowledge of how to do anything? Give me a break. No wonder kids are messed up these days.
i was one of those kids who did things on his own and figured them out. later in life in the military, though this has nothing to do with the military; i would travel in foreign countries on my own. others who didn't get those opportunities followed me and learned from me on how to get around on their own. we'd get to go see things many were too afraid to attempt. south korea for example, i taught myself how to use the train and subway system though at the time i couldn't speak or read korean. i took groups to "seoul land" ( a huge amusement park) it became a thing and i got time off my regular duties to take them there and back. i even gave classes on how to get around and walk among korean nationals, there's subtle things you should do and not do. things i was able to observed and taught to others in a way they could use just about anywhere in the world.
Lol, brings back memories of being one of the few guys to go to Seoul on pass from Camp Greaves near the DMZ. I used to take the guys on excursions as well. Plus for me there was an added benefit. My Korean wife of 45 years is in the living room as I type. I never thought of thanking my mom and grandmother for letting me get around on my own in grade school, insightful.
These comments have left me beaming and nostalgic. I grew up in the sixties and seventies. My sister and I had freedom. I doubt that I literally felt proud because it was just normal and I would love to do it again.
@@noreply-7069 Do you think it warrants criminalization where parents can be held liable for child endangerment though with CPS potentially seizing their children if they allow, say, an 11-year-old child to ride the subway? I don't consider it wise for parents to allow children to ride the NYC subway, but it seems even worse to me to lock up the parents and potentially separate them from their children as a result.
Growing up in the 70's, it was expected for us to spend all day outside and ride our bikes everywhere. It was great.
Mom didn't want us home till supper time. It was the best time of our lives!
The good old days were the best
80s too.
My mom kicked us out of the house and said be back for dinner
Same here, and I rode my bike without a helmet. Pretty scary stuff.
Was not that long ago, parents used to allow their children to roam freely in their neighborhood.
Different demographics
@@phillipp5538 🎯
@@phillipp5538different how? Prior to 1990s all children roamed the neighborhoods, regardless of demographic.
@@phillipp5538 I mean, OP is right. We have to ask why it's not safe anymore in North America. I point to mass migration from non-compatible cultures as that's really the only thing that changed.
It was the mass hysteria of Stranger Danger. Parents thought a predator lurked around every corner waiting to get their kid. In reality the vast majority of abductions and molestation were family members or family friends. Not strangers. But the media got us all in a frenzy.
A lady in Austin was arrested and prosecuted for allowing her 8-year-old son to walk a short way alone. People have turned into idiots.
19:15 You are correct.
Literally mentioned in this clip with video footage. And you probably found out about her from Stossels previous video, which featured the mom and also showed this lady.
@SimonASNG you caught me. You must be Sherlock Holmes.
What was creepy was how the judge made the lady write a confession letter that sound like propaganda from a communist party.
And the government is so perversely authoritarian they punished her and even forced her to write a groveling apology for having her kid walk outside alone and putting him "in danger".
We were gone on our bikes all day, fishing, cruising the woods and streets. Nobody cared what we did.We only had to be home for supper.
And after dinner, you had to be home within a few minutes after the streetlights came on. We used to travel hours on the bus to do various activities, go to the Zoo, roller rink, walking around the park to look at the hippies, whatever.
Yep, we wore out our bike tires. And home when the streetlights come on.
yep. hey mom im gonna ride my bike down to the river and run around on the trails by it. or go swim in the pond. or play in the little creek by us. or ride bike few miles out to lake on highway and ride trails. got to point i just went without saying anything. my sister and me road bikes 10 miles to next town and back in 90s without telling parents, having phone or gps or map. we often road out to the outskirts of town and back. 1 day we got to our turn around spot and was like you wanna keep going. like if we have problems we will go to a near by farm house or flag a car down and theyll help us. we made it to next town and celebrated. took more traveled highway back. started sprinkling as we road past lake getting back to our town. as kids we went around town selling christmas cards to get toys this 1 company was doing. candy sales in school.
Gen X Rocks
That was before we had millions of illegals who consistently traffic people. This isn't the 70s
I am much more worried about a nosy neighbor calling 911 and a police officer detaining my child than I am of them being abducted by a stranger.
In the 80s, they called that condition “being institutionalised”. It was not seen as a good thing. Now, it is the goal.
Well that makes equally paranoid, just at the opposite end of the spectrum. You and your child are not better off.
It was on the local news, a kid had to walk home a mile after his mom kicked him out of the car for being bad. The police were upset after a neighbor called them
@@bansheezs My grandpa would threaten me to get out and walk home sometimes when we were in the countryside. I was a trouble maker. Not sure what I did but I was maybe 7 or 8?. I can remember it in pieces. One time he actually stopped and I got out. That shocked him. I just started walking because I knew the way to get home. It was a LONG walk if I completed it. But he eventually came back and got me back in the car.
He had to get more creative after that :P
I live in Vienna in Austria and it's still pretty normal for kids to walk to school alone once they are 7 or 8 years old (it used to be 6 when I was going to school). Ever since the Natascha Kampusch abduction that happened close to where I live, the school has an obligation to call the parents if a child fails to show up in the morning...
When talking about this horrible case, what stood out to me was that Natascha was the only girl in her class who wasn't allowed to walk to school alone yet. The first time her Mum finally let her, at 10 years old, she describes feeling overwhelmed because everything was new. And when she saw a strange guy standing next to a white van on the side of the road, her gut feeling told her to cross to the other side, but she didn't because she thought she was just panicking on her first day of walking alone and couldn't trust her feelings.
John Stossel is one of the most honest and professional journalists of the last thirty years. Thank you for the work you do.
shes right about that neighborhood where kid walked home alone. there should be 100 kids out walking, riding bikes, scooters, skate boards, basketball, etc.
Right? It's so sad that our neighborhoods are so quiet with non kids out playing. And I live in a very safe neighborhood.
Introducing, @strongtowns
One of the main reasons why I picked my current apartment was that when I was outside ringing the bell, a group of kids showed up ringing another bell asking "Can Max come out and play?"
This is possibly one of the best John Stossel videos I have watched. And it’s all common sense. Something that most people in the United States, and certainly our politicians, have gotten away from.
I walked to school by myself when I was in first grade. It wasn’t just a means to getting to school, it was an adventure every morning. There were workmen who were pouring concrete, houses being built, neighborhood adults out cutting the grass and I could visit with them, utility men climbing up poles, etc. It was all very exciting and an adventure.
You grew up at the YMCA 😂
I went to the buss but i walked home alone.
I walked to the bus stop and home in 1st grade, it was pretty far. When my siblings were my age (I'm the youngest by 9 years) they lived close to their elementary school and they all walked to school and home in kindergarten.
My oldest has been playing alone in the fenced in yard since he was 4. And people have said things about it!
"And it's all common sense". The heck you say. The problem is that we have lost common sense. That's what underpins many of our ills. Saying things like "men can get pregnant" and not being allowed to challenge this is why we have lost common sense. Being called by a neighbor for allowing your children to run around the yard or neighborhood further contributes to an erosion of common sense. We are becoming finger wagging, busy body, spying-on-each-other @ssholes in this 21st century nation.
What a wonderful and well grounded woman, we need more like her. I also find it so frustrating that that one mom was arrested for letting her child outside alone. 😡
Please don’t have kids
Many many parents have been arrested for being good parents, just in ways other people didn't agree with.
I agree with everything she's saying. I'm a boomer, and we was EXPECTED to be outside and to not come back until "the street lights came on!" I remember coming in to get a drink of water and my mom saying "stop running in and out!" Ahh those were the days! Can I get a witness... Kids today, head down in a screen.. SMH
We just drank out of the water hose. Go inside to use the bathroom, we would hear stop running in and out, ya'll are going to wear the door out!!
Gen X here, we lived outside. It was punishment to be stuck inside.
I used to sneak books outside because I didn't want to run around till the street lights came on... but I certainly wasn't welcome inside so I just found a quiet spot like a tree to read my book until I was allowed to come home ;-)
At 5 I used to go to the store 5 blocks away to buy cigarettes for an elderly neighbor. She'd give me a $10 bill, I'd buy her a carton and got to keep the change, which was almost $2!!
My mother would send us to fetch cigarettes from the store. We were under 10. No one questioned it. The government has stolen the simple freedoms.
How long after that did your neighbor die of Lung Cancer?
My sister, at age 7, used to go down to the corner grocery store and buy cigarettes for my grandfather.
@@droldsw31
Wow.....
I used to buy my smokes at the local Mini Mart on base in North Carolina. I think it was about 1982 I remember being ticked off when the price of a carton of cigarettes went from $1.25 to $1.50. No, really, I was mad. That is (was) a 16.67 % increase!
This woman is 💯 % spot on. I was a 1970's "latchkey kid" from kindergarten-on. Yes, I was bullied terribly for years, and had approximately a dozen abduction attempts on me by creepy men. But it all made me who I am today: fiercely independent, street smart, and resourceful. I can adapt to any sittuation and I fear no man. The resulting confidence and independence growing up that way has been invaluable throughout my entire life. Society today is so weak and the children are overly coddled. No wonder the world is collapsing inward like a soufflé.
I was a 70’s latch key kid also. We knew where we were aloud to go and not go. We had chores to accomplish b4 mom got home. We had to call when we got to where we were going and when we left for home. The neighbors back then had permission to get on to us if we were doing wrong and would eat us out. I walked to school from 2nd grade to 6th grade. After that we moved too far from school and rode the bus. Proud to be a 70’s kid.
@@RobertSmith-lw2bxMy daughter was a fireman, her words not mine, who would work 24 off 24 for several days in a row. My 12 year old grandson who had grown up pretty much free range was going to stay alone overnight. Normally he would stay with us since we lived close by. I asked if he thought he could handle it. His response, “I have two dogs, two phones and two guns”. In my mind the perfect order of self defense. Being free range gave him a confidence that has stayed with him to this day.
I was an 80’s latch key kid. I never got in smelly Bobs van. Kids learned early and were strong for it. The things we did back then for fun like skitching in the winter at five years old. I'd go to the science museum alone, and biked everywhere. Played football in the park, soldered together circuits when I was five. Got an under the table job at seven to make some money folding pizza boxes.
Crime was way higher back then. Freedom was great, and it is so sad that it is gone. That is why everybody is so soft now.
I have agreed with the comments this mom is making for the better part of 30 years. We have created children that would much rather be in their room playing video games as opposed to being outside and exploring their environment.
My classic example is that when I was a child getting a new bicycle was the best thing you could get. Today’s children look at a bicycle as an activity. Like let’s ride around the block a few times. When I was younger my bicycle was a means to adventure.
A bike meant freedom in the 70's
@@gregb8824 Same in the 90s.
Exactly, my bike was my transportation. My friend's and I would ride all around different neighborhoods meeting up with people from different schools we would meet and looking for cool woods to hangout in that might have trails with jumps built 😂 I miss the old days 👍🏻🍻
I am 75 years old and I walked to elementary school every school day. And who directed traffic so I could cross the street? A fifth or sixth grader on the safety patrol.
I was on the safety patrol in fourth grade. If there were enough kids, we would have eight covering an intersection (i.e. one for each side of a crosswalk). If not, we did our best to cover every direction from which a kid was coming. Now a days, you see a single adult trying to cover an entire intersection, ridiculous!
@@johnnemeth6913 Ridiculous, yes. But, sad at the same time.
Common sense is so rare today.
common sense ? What's that ?
I think it's because with the vast and growing Internet the entire spectrum of stupidity is broadcast to us. So it's even more apparent.
I think most people have never had common sense.
My kids are now adults under 25. I made sure they were able to have freedom as kids. They had a whole pack of kids they explored the neighborhood, the park, the woods, and the little creek with. They had a wonderful time like I did growing up. Now they are well adjusted and confident adults. Independence is so important!
Good for you and them!
Yep, mine are the same. Well adjusted and were honors students and athletes at the same time. They were always coached to make good choices. Very successful now.
@@robertbiermann4666 Yep, we did it right!
There is a window in which giving this kind of freedom is exciting to the child. It’s from ~2 until ~11. If you miss it, it is an uphill battle to instill independence.
I never played video games and spent 95% of my free time outdoors playing in the country. It made me fiercely independent and self-sufficient. My dad made me help him build stuff and fix things. That got me ahead in the work force and i now own my own Electrical company. Thank you dad
all of us were free range kids. this current trend is media driven, not society driven, the more media, the more fear we have
It's sad that we even have the term " free range" kids. When we were young, it was just " kids". And now they have " free range kids", and it's literally an anomaly! Smh
...and the more fear we have, the more we want government assistance. Fear gives government a reason to control us, and they love it.
@@danielkutcher5704 🎯
I think some parents are are the ones with the separation anxiety.
@tomster7574 And a few free range kids were accosted by John Wayne Gary and never seen again.
I completely trust my daughter. I don’t trust other adults because there are so many who are mentally imbalanced. The adults who will call the police when they see my daughter walking to or home from school alone.
It’s a shame…
She’s saying that that is where the police responsibility needs to kick in..” is the child in danger? Bleeding? Distressed? No? Feel free to call when something happens. “
@ right. And you saw how well that went for that mother. It is so easy for ne’er-do-well parents and poor judgement from police can literally tear your family apart.
How much do you trust critical thinking skills in the general public? You know that’s been on a gradual decline the last couple decades, right?
@Guitarzan8 I can show you whole neighborhoods where parents don't watch their kids. Those kids usually end up in gangs and go on to commit violent crimes. Just because she let him walk to school doesn't mean she let him roam the rest of the time free.
The biggest threat to your kid is your government, bar none. There's the recent story of a mother who let her kid walk a block home and someone called the police. They jailed her and she got fired from her job. Public schools are also a huge danger. They can do awful things in secret without your consent.
@@grabithard2534those kids don't have a Dad in their lives or any good role models
👍 So glad I grew up in the 70s and my parents had this women's mindset to allow a child to learn and play on his/her own.
I love that woman. This is truly common sense. She and others like her need even more coverage. Let kids be free and chase those that would hurt them.
When I see the kids in my neighborhood riding their bikes, walking around or playing basketball in the street, it makes me very happy! And they're all great kids! Can't wait for my kids to join them!
The difference is Japan is a high trust society, because they have a mono culture… American has become VERY different than when we were kids. While I agree with you in many ways, I wish we were like Japan… But we are not.
This comment is the truth, diversity and opening the floodgates to immigration in America of non-white and non-christian killed kids being allowed to be kids in the US. She got so close showing when this rise started and yes it was before cell phones or even home computers but it was directly tied to diversity. Comparing the USA to Japan will never work, we are flooded with more 3rd worlders by the day that come from races/culture/religions that view it as ok to sleep with or even beat a child to within an inch of their lives. Japan can have it because it's not been ruined by immigration and diversity.
And Japan is perhaps the most racist society in the world. They treat non Asian folks as if they were the untouchables of India!
Walked half a mile to kindergarten every day on busy city streets. Survived to tell the tale; just like all of my friends.
½ mile = 5 blocks… 🤷🏼♂️
Yes me too. About a mile to my school grade 1 onwards. (Not kindergarten). As an adult I later found out that I thought I was alone but my parents actually followed my to school in grade 1. Of course I got the hiding of my life in grade 3 when I was allowed to cycle to school and crossed on red traffic signal.
The only reason. I didn't walk to kindergarten. There was a very busy street to cross and no traffic lights. Yet, I had to cross the same street to go to the store for parents cigarettes.
These are delusional people to even suggest that this is America's worst mom. Just thinking about all the alcoholics etc.
What started this was Donahue, Oprah, Dr Phil that were discussing predators, and dysphoria pederists along with other fears...lots of fears...
What it did was keep kids home, indoors and watching the cable kids shows on the new kids only networks... all afternoon and day. Those channels were owned by the same syndicates that aired the trash TV mom talk shows.
Get it.
Many parents unfortunately are on drugs.
@@sorensolveig599 And? Plenty of moms were on drugs in the 1950s but you probably didn't know that at the time.
I have an extreme story. When I was 5 in 1960, living 20 miles NE of Atlanta, Ga and next to the railroad. So, one day it happened that a train stopped for some time. Well, being the kid that I was I managed to climb up on the side ladder of one of the cars, pretending that I was a conductor waving my imaginary lantern. Well, the train started moving. I had seen trains of that time would usually back up to gain slack in the couplings ( of course at the time I had no idea why they did it, I just knew they did ), and then go forward that familiar sound, clack, clack, clack, POW ! Better locomotives now, so that does not happen anymore. So, when the train started moving I expected it to stop, but it did NOT. It just got faster and faster, so rode 40 miles hanging on the side of that train. When it finally came to a stop, there was zero hesitation getting off. I started walking home, with no concept of how far away I was. As sunset approached a man saw me walking beside the highway and concerned asked me where I was going. He was floored when I told him, so he said, "Hop in. I'm going that way". Well, I knew when my parents found out, I would get the spanking of my life. So, I lied to the guy about which house was mine. As we pulled off the road, I bolted for the woods. That poor guy was probably terrified that he might get accused of something. I have no idea what became of it on his side. I also, knew if I told either of my siblings they would squeal on me and I would still get that spanking. So, I never told anybody until a couple of years after I was married , and I told my wife. So, naturally she called my mother and squealed on me.
crazy story! glad nothing happened to you. something like this happened to a couple at my church, but with a 4 year old girl, saddly, she got killed by the train
@@olivegrove-gl3tw That is sad. My son's friends tell him that he shouldn't be here, because I shouldn't be here. In my case, I was too scared for the train to get me. I wonder how many others have similar stories , or am I the only lucky freak to have survived such foolishness. Trains not needed. I also, survived Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and Desert Shield / Storm as a Marine. A lot more miracles used there saving my hide. And I am thankful for each and every one of them. Thanks for your comment.
When I grew up in Princeton Jct., NJ in the 70s and cut grass for money as an 11-year-old, I would tell my parents I was going to a friend's house for the day and would take the train to NYC. I loved to go to the Natural History Museum and the Hayden Planetarium.
Having been to Tokyo, Japan, it is nothing like the U.S., it is clean, it is orderly, people behave, it's just another world apart from the U.S. I was telling my kids that I was fine with them exploring on their own while we were there, and they did. I wouldn't encourage that if we were in San Franciso, L.A., Baltimore, Chicago, NYC, Houston, etc. and I grew up a "latch key kid" in the 1960's early 70's.
Where I live, the school buses pick up and drop off the kids at each house, even if the houses are right next to each other. This is so crazy. When I was a kid, and even my son, back in the 90’s, the kids were all picked up at the end of the block and all the kids in the neighborhood walked to and from the bus stop.
Only farm kids rode the bus to school were I grew up, all the kids from town walked or biked.
Supervise in some areas, don't supervise in others. Encourage independence and not do everything for them. A parent should be wise enough to guide kids not just let them grow up alone and make stupid mistakes that don't need to be made.
The issue is the justice system doesnt keep pdfs and human traffickers in jail.
Ha, the Epstein Maxwell client List is the justice system.....
Many don't even go to jail, they get probation
There's a more permanent solution and it's cheaper too
@@theplatypen1959They don't and they get to live near schools and in family oriented areas
Our 2a is literally for this.
I grew up in a suburb of LA in the late 60’s early 70’s. My mom who was sort of over protective, allowed us to walk to the store and get bread and milk, candy, etc. I had one experience when I was 12 and walking home from school and someone wanted directions and asked me to come closer to their car, but I knew better. I allowed my children to play outside in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. I allowed my son to walk to the grocery store with cash and a list, walk home from the school bus, or from school. I had to work and I just asked for a phone call when they got home. I lived in areas that weren’t bad, but there were “pockets”, and the kids always knew their boundaries. I agree that sensible freedom is good: teaching your children to be aware of their surroundings. Kids don’t learn about how to function in life unless they do things on their own.
Another great interview, John, and I applaud Lenore for what she is doing. She's a reasonable voice in and increasingly unreasonable world. What I like to call 'safetyism,' a near compulsive obsession with safety at every conceivable level, has run amok in this country. I dealt with it constantly during my 33 career and it's showing up more and more in cases like this Texas woman being hauled off to jail, which is completely absurd. Having grown up during the '60's and '70's, it's not something I understand.
As an adult I don't want to ride the NY subway, no way I would let my kid ride. In a safer city like somewhere in Asia I 100% would though. NYC just is an s-hole
When I was 12 me and other kids made a trip to Times Square to a huge arcade , I remember it look like I was in a taxi driver movie 😮😢very awakening trip but I survive it along with the other kids
I think it does depend on the era in NY as there is a big difference depending on the year. Having been mugged about 4 times there is a few places where I would never allow my kids to go alone. On the other hand it is important for them to do certain things on their own. There are (and I'm to lazy to give you reference) that have found kids that are independent are considerably safer. Part of the reason is they learn how to identify dangers and create strategies to mitigate these dangers. While children that are not independent never learn these strategies and abilities and are at much higher risk even as teenagers. (I've worked with University students that was scared to walk on campus alone because of over protective parents. It took them almost a year to become independent enough to go to class alone.)
OMG...raising confident, self-sufficient kids!! What a concept! Great story
I grew up overseas in Thailand (a 3rd world country back in the 90s). I rode the bus home with my siblings in elementary, and in middle school, by myself. Deal to with the heat, congestion, crowds, but I was fine, and I learned independence and problem solving (walked when the bus was late). I’m thankful I was able to experience that.
It depends on the kid. When my son was 5 years old he was 100 lbs and 4ft tall and mature…. we let him play outside on our street with friends alone. He’s almost 7 now and he’s allowed to ride his bike around the block and to friend’s houses a few streets over. My 8 year old has autism and we don’t let him go anywhere by himself. You have to assess your children’s readiness per child.
In America, over-parenting is significantly shaped by a culture of scrutiny, largely driven by social media. Many parents live in fear of being publicly shamed, which fosters a **social fear-based system** that compels them to adhere to societal norms. This relentless pressure can overwhelm parents, pushing them to prioritize approval over their children’s independence. As a result, children's ability to self-govern is compromised, leading to adverse effects on their development in our digital world.
This makes sense when you are talking about anywhere but the NYC subway.
I agree. New York is a cesspool of crime.
Thank you!!!
That cop is a moron who should be fired.
I think it’s more of the dispatcher‘s fault.
@Guitarzan8 they should all be fired
@@Guitarzan8and the cops kd should be put in foster care
@@Guitarzan8No, it isn't. The dispatcher's job is to send officers to where a "problem" is reported. It is entirely up to the officer how they handle the situation once they get there.
He wants recognition and an award. Yes, he should be fired, in my opinion. And the department chief fired for having hired him. Again, in my opinion.
I'm 66 years old, and I remember walking to school and doing all kinds of errands along with my sister's. My grandchildren have no confidence compared to what my daughter had.
I'm more scared of the mindless cops that would arrest parents for doing what they feel are best.
Lol in reality the kidnappers didn't come for the kids 😂😂😂 they came for the parents
The worst is the judge, didn't throw it out of court, and call out the prosecutor and cop.
@firstchoicefarm7767 Really? I'm more scared the cops who shoot kids playing in the park, on their own, and then drive away. But we won't talk about Tamir Rice being a free range kid now will we?
I'm a dad. I think it's sickening the way parents have collectively created a of helpless children who have little contact outside of their age bracket.
Please don't judge so quickly. As a parent, I do my best, but our neighborhood's streets are completely empty, and other kids are not allowed to play unsupervised, so my kids have no one to play with outdoors, and when they ask a friend to join them - the friend's parents almost always say no. So we gave up. It used to be much easier for parents, back when we were kids, because everybody else was doing it too... but times have changed. It's more about the culture of where you live, than about what you wish you had for your kids. Unfortunately.
@michalnanny1098 I don't mean it to be personal. But, yeah, you make my point: collectively we are on the wrong path.
When you've been around the world and seen other cultures and you see that they allow their people and their families a lot more freedom than we have, there's something wrong.
@warrenny Just curious, Warren. Was Tamir Rice a normal free range kid?
Who would let their kids walk around in LA, NY City, Baltimore, Chicago? The world in the US is not as safe as it once was.
Check the statitistics. This video showed violent crime overall nationwide is down. And I've heard that kidnapping is very rare (not counting a divorced parent taking their child).
false completly false @@architennis
@@handlesrtwitterdontbelivethem Links, please.
@@architennis So you would take the chance based on statistics to let your children walk through the drug invested, crazy homeless people streets and feel safe?
@@rotart12arx3 I don't have kids. If I did I'd probably be wary of letting them loose in a big city, partly because I grew up in a safe suburb and don't know enough about cities. I think I would let them loose in the suburbs though. Assuming I didn't live in an area where I feared getting arrested for doing so!
My parents raised me like this. Idk if they realize it or not, but I'm glad they did.
Some years ago I spent a week in Tokyo. I saw children of kindergarten age in their uniforms riding the metro during rush hour every day. The thought of it happening in NYC is unimaginable.
Its illegal to let your kids walk to school alone. Super mega sad. :(
I remember when, “be home at sunset”. If you were gone after dark, you got grounded, with no internet, video games or even television.
Excellent video. It really makes me rethink how much freedom my kid should have. Statistics should be used more than just fear
Honestly, I don't think I would let my nine year old go many places alone. With a buddy, yes, but not alone. But, I was traumatized by a graphic stranger danger movie they made us watch in my elementary school in the early 70's, and later a child of a family we knew was abducted from a park, and their life was ended.
👍to this ladies message.
I agree with everything she said.
I agree with her. I don't know about letting a young child take the NY subway alone but I can see where allowing them to organize their own play can result in developing a sense of confidence by allowing them to have a measure of independence. In turn, it cuts down on the emotionally weak young people as we see today.
My parents had no idea where I was when I was a kid but I came home every evening for dinner. Today parents have their children leashed via iPhones tracking their locations and every moment of every single day. Parents also pass down their own anxiety to their kids because of this.
"It's no fun thinking your kids are going to be kidnapped."
You know what's no fun? Calling the police every six moths to ask if they've found your child's body yet.
b-b-but the anecdotes are totally worth giving my child stunted development!
My youngest has severe food allergies. I believe that because he felt empowered, he grew up confident. I taught him how to use his epi pens and to let people know about his allergies. I didn't hover around him, even let him ride the school bus and eat in the school cafeteria WITH the students eating his allergens. He has zero anxiety over his life threatening medical conditions. Today, he's a confident leader. I gave him room to grow confident of himself.
There are so many parents that allow their kids to take the public train or bus at that age to go to school alone.
My mother was strict. I grew up fine.
My kid is nearly 6, and I got to teach her the old rule "Come home when the street lights come on". She loves being outside playing with the other kids in the neighborhood!
This woman is spot on ! I left the house when I was 5 or 6 years old . My mom rarely knew where my brothers and I were. It was in the 60’s . And we drank from garden hoses and didn’t wear bicycle helmets. 😬😁
Mrs. Skenazy is a genuine hero
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this message. I heard about Free Range Kids from Jonathan Haight. I miss seeing kids in running free & laughing in neighborhoods.
I’m 63, back when I was a kid like 9
I missed my bus stop one day on way home from school, I didn’t get off the bus,
by like 1/4 mile
The bus driver made me ride all the way back to school then call my mom to come get me.
By then my mom was freaked out. I was like mom relax I’m good.
We lived in the country.
No cell phones back then. That was just an unusual situation back then.
The old be home at dusk, now go play with your friends.
That was after dinner.
We ate as a family back then too. 5 sharp.
Man times have changed
What was wrong with that bus driver? He should let you get out the moment you realize you missed your stop and walk home. You’d probably never do it again because of that walk.
I have found that all of us have a responsibility to watch out for each other and the children
A lady I date teaches first grade at a charter school.
She begins every school year by reading "The Ransom of Red Chief" -- and always loves to see the kids realize that they are so much like the kid in the story.
Great interview John. Great subject also.
Her theory is sound UUUUNNNTIL you realize 22 million unvetted people from around the globe, most of whom do Not share the American value system, have been let into the country.
When i was in grade six back in the 80's i got a note from my mom stating i had an appointment and could leave a 11:00am. I hopped on a bus and went to the local university and went to a Gowan Concert at noon. It was 2 bucks to get in and I loved every second of it. I got his autograph too. I was 9 or 10 years old. My friend were not allowed to go so i went alone......Its crazy today as we must always be afraid of all those strange animals out there :)
My parents let me sign my own report card and return it to the teacher immediately when I was in grade school & college, and told me school was up tp me and not to bother them with it as it was my responsibility. I ended up with two STEM masters degrees and have a dozen patients. Kids now do not learn responsibility and just depend on the government!
Ill let my kids walk the woods or ride a 4 wheeler but id never leave them roam NYC.
For those of us who were kids in large families in the 1940's and 1950's, this is sanity. I feel sorry for kids who are helicopter-parented today. They fail to learn how to survive in various scenarios. No wonder they feel anxious and depressed. Incompetency in surviving reality is not a blessing.
There’s exceptions to every rule just because it didn’t happen to him doesn’t mean it won’t happen to other children and she should be charged with some form of negligence, you’re not allowed to leave a child home by themselves 16 or younger so why would you let one travel legally?
💯
"I was ready for it." Is like a bad driver that thinks they're a good driver just because they haven't caused an accident YET.
Just because you can find your way from one place to another doesn't mean you're prepared and safe. Kids do need more independence, but you have to balance that with the reality that the world is much more dangerous for children than it used to be. Our society has normalized mental disorder.
Yep
It is so rare to see common sense today that it has become a spectacle. This woman appears brilliant for speaking common sense. We need many more like her.
Who remembers the dinner bell? It existed because we were expected to be outside before dinner time - exploring, burning off energy, and even participating in a little healthy mischievousness - and then when mom would ring the dinner bell we were expected to be home and sit down and eat together.
My favorite journalist! ⚡️⚡️👏👏🙏🙏
What nosy neighbors need to remember is that having a parent taken away for letting a child walk home alone, will result in the child being alone and in actual danger!
Anecdotal point here but I was free to spend the weekend days on my own downtown from age 10 onwards. I made it ok but also I did and saw terrible things so she has the right general direction but is missing the piece where the world can change in a bad way you if you are young and not ready for it.
Yup, our society in many American cities is too sick for this.
I would love to see a study on what age children learned to swim and ride a bicycle over the decades. I guarantee you we have a record number of high school kids. Who’ve never learned to swim or ride a bicycle.
It would help if actual criminals were kept in jail. Here winter is snowy, so it might be depending on weather.
This woman is speaking truth. Buddy and his wife micromanaged their kids life, out of fear they would be kidnapped or hurt. Took them everywhere, hovered over every gathering they attended. Both parents died kind of early, kids are both in 30's. Don't have drivers licenses, don't have jobs. Both depending on other people for their lives.
One of the best parenting books I read...
My job as a Dad is to keep my child safe and give her the tools to thrive at life. As she gets older and she gains skills and confidence, I spend less focus on safety and trust her to make smart choices.
Yes. Care to expand on your thought in the context of this video. I can easily read your comment either way here.
@msromike123 meaning that when a toddler, I kept her safe. As she got older and more skilled, I pushed her toward more freedom. I don't know that if send my 6yo on a NYC subway, but I wouldn't stop anyone else from deciding that's right for them.
On the other hand 300,000 illegal migrant children are Missing. Human trafficking is a thing for them. Its not NONE or VERY COMMON but somewhere in the middle. If you are in a good neighborhood - risk is low. In THE HOODS? Risk is higher. Often times they just end up dead.
To be fair, I wouldn’t ride the New York subway alone.
At 10 I was driving industrial sized tractors on my family farm; got the pictures to prove it. Apparently I didn't die.
grandma was aghast at our son taking bus and walking to and from school... he was a Cub Scout & then a Boy Scout... explained to her that we send him out in the woods with a knife, water and fire to have fun... he graduated with his masters degree Summa Cum Laude in Aerospace Engineering.. it worked out.. being Gen X parents helped.. free range kids ourselves
Poor grandma. Maybe she didn’t have enough to do.
We had friends that did not send their kids to school and let them do what ever they wanted. Run , play, learn etc. a 7 year old would often be holding her 2 year old baby sister walking outside in the street without supervision. On fair we thought this was in responsible. But I have to say that each and every one of their kids grew up to be respectful, capable, successful kids. Fully independent. I believe society pushes fear.
The motto of "it takes a village" is a load of crap. Keep fathers and mothers in the home, raise responsible kids, ensure they learn consequences. My kids are MY KIDS!
How do you keep both "fathers and mothers in the home" unless they both live off welfare?
This depends on your environment and community. First of all we must strengthen community safety and let children be aware of dangers (drugs, Bad influencers, and etc.). This is how suburban parents do to there children until there were reports of missing children (There is always a predators on children). The most important is always tell your parents were you are going( to build trust and confidence),who are you with, what time you are coming back and always call your parents if you will be late or staying in your friends. Never ever lie to your family were you are and who you are with is so important(this is the reason many families are very worried, especially in our environment today).
Congrats on 1 million
It's harder to control people who are confident and enjoy responsibility.
Meh. I had all that freedom and I struggle with depression. I keep my daughter safe and secure and she radiates confidence and creativity.
I'm sorry you have depression. And...I'd like to see the statistics on this. I'd bet they'd show that things are more aligned with what this woman is saying.
@ you have to keep in mind, my generation went undiagnosed. Just like how it isn’t the case of suddenly there are more autistic kids, but that autistic kids in the past went undiagnosed. It was just as common but unseen. My generation, the generation that stayed outside most of the day, struggles with mental health now. I don’t think keeping your child safe and looked after is causing depression in them. I think more parents are paying attention to their children and getting them the help they need. Often times depression is a genetic issue and not environmental.
@@applepye1353 Good points but I still figure there's been an increase in depression and anxiety in young generations. If so, what has caused it isn't super easy to figure out. Some suggest it's smart phones and social media, others think it's not being allowed to have free play and exploration where they learn how to figure things out (socially with friends) by themselves versus having adults oversee every hour of their day. Or maybe it's in the water.
@ outside of it being a generic disorder, I do think social media plays a bigger part than not being free range. My son was born with depression. His digestive issues led to him having the chemical imbalance in his mind. He wouldn’t have done well if allowed to roam free because if he gets frazzled his ability to think clearly goes away. People don’t take kindly to children with disorders, seeing them as being spoiled or a result of bad parenting. My daughter doesn’t have those issues but I have kept her off social media. But I still wouldn’t have let her roam free because I know she has no sense of direction and her mind tends to wander. She’d get lost. My son is more reclusive but he has his friends. My daughter is eccentric and has a close group of friends. I don’t like these strict black and white statements. Would some children benefit to having more freedom? Absolutely. But it would be the wrong choice for others.
It's a different world lady. Protect your child.
Protect your child from the world so when they're 18 they have no social skills or knowledge of how to do anything? Give me a break. No wonder kids are messed up these days.
That cop knows that we don't put child predators in prison anymore.
This works in a homogeneous society with a shared culture. The US used to have a shared culture.
No
i was one of those kids who did things on his own and figured them out. later in life in the military, though this has nothing to do with the military; i would travel in foreign countries on my own. others who didn't get those opportunities followed me and learned from me on how to get around on their own. we'd get to go see things many were too afraid to attempt. south korea for example, i taught myself how to use the train and subway system though at the time i couldn't speak or read korean. i took groups to "seoul land" ( a huge amusement park) it became a thing and i got time off my regular duties to take them there and back. i even gave classes on how to get around and walk among korean nationals, there's subtle things you should do and not do. things i was able to observed and taught to others in a way they could use just about anywhere in the world.
Lol, brings back memories of being one of the few guys to go to Seoul on pass from Camp Greaves near the DMZ. I used to take the guys on excursions as well. Plus for me there was an added benefit. My Korean wife of 45 years is in the living room as I type. I never thought of thanking my mom and grandmother for letting me get around on my own in grade school, insightful.
@@msromike123 i was at: camp mercer (44th engr. bn. hhc), & camp nimble (702 msb hhc + 44th eng. c co)
These comments have left me beaming and nostalgic. I grew up in the sixties and seventies. My sister and I had freedom. I doubt that I literally felt proud because it was just normal and I would love to do it again.
in many other place, i might agree with her within reason. for NYC subway? no way. even i didn't want to use it if i can.
For real. NYC subway is a literal portal to hell. You can see anything and everything depraved and degenerate down there..
@@noreply-7069 Do you think it warrants criminalization where parents can be held liable for child endangerment though with CPS potentially seizing their children if they allow, say, an 11-year-old child to ride the subway? I don't consider it wise for parents to allow children to ride the NYC subway, but it seems even worse to me to lock up the parents and potentially separate them from their children as a result.