I agree, having been born and raised in a bygone era, if we kids weren't in school we were generally out and about all day long, just sneaking home for a bite to eat now and then. It's sad they way we've one down this path where kids are no longer given the opportunity to mature naturally. Way too many people are in everyone else's business nowadays. We used to call them busybodies back then and laughed at them ... now they're the norm.
Right there with you.
When I was a young child I lived in a very remote rural area. Once I was old enough to have learned basic navigation and survival, I was allowed to roam free. "Home by sundown" was the rule, and the only 'plan' we ever had.
If someone asked my mother where I was on a Saturday afternoon her answer would be "No idea."
Yeah, same here. Remote farm country and woods all around. We were always off out and about. I used to roam around with a 22 rifle when I was ten or younger, went out fishing or we'd all go off ice skating on a local pond or sledding down back road hills ... it's not that no one cared ... they just trusted us. I'm not sure with all the modern niceties like cell phones and all the organized sports and such, kids ever learn that element of trust or to rely on themselves. Mommy can check on them every moment or is chauffeuring them around everywhere ... so personal responsibility is lost on many, if that makes sense. Kids never get to be kids.
I'm relived to see the ability to be a competent parent protected by law. It's frightening that it's needed.
I'm waiting for a grown up helicopter-kid to sue his parents for neglect by not teaching them basic life skills. I think some children today might have a valid claim.