An American couple are being investigated for child neglect because they allowed their children to walk the one mile journey home from a local park unaccompanied by an adult.
The parents, Danielle and Alexander Meitiv, told ABC News that they are under investigation following reports to police by neighbours about their two children – 10 year-old son Rafi and a six-year-old daughter Dvora – walking home from a local playground in Silver Springs, Maryland, on a Saturday afternoon.
The parents say they believe the case shows the conflict between differing ideas on how safe the world is and how parents should raise thier children.
The parents insist the children are capable of looking after themselves on such trips and such activities are part of the children learning about independence. They say the children have previously walked together to a local shop and library unsupervised and they know the area well.
"I grew up in New York City in the 70s and nobody hesitated to let their kids walk around. The only thing that's changed between then and now is our fear," Danielle told The Washington Post.
"They understand that they need to hold hands when they cross the street, they need to look both ways, make sure the light is with them," she said.
On December 20, separate callers alerted police to the children walking unaccompanied on walks home from two nearby parks. One park is two blocks from the Meitiv home, the other is one mile.
The Meitiv parents told The Washington Post they believe in a more relaxed, hands off approach to parenting, known as “free-range” parenting - an approach that allows children greater independence.
The children normally carry a laminated card reading: “I am not lost. I am a free range kid,” although they did not have the card with them when police stopped them while walking home from a park a mile from their home.
Danielle said that, rather than neglect their children, they put a great deal of thought into their parenting, but opt to allow their children independence.
Following the calls the children were questioned at school by police and the family was visited, several times, by Child Protection Services(CPS), with the parents told if they did not sign a pledge to not leave their children unaccompanied then the children would be taken away from them.
“They came and they interviewed kids at school without our permission or knowledge. And when they were talking to them, they were painting a picture of a world that is very scary," said Alexander Meitiv.
"They were asking my son Rafi what he would do if he was grabbed by a stranger. Telling them, you know there are creeps out there that are just waiting to grab children if they're walking by themselves," Mr Meitiv said.
“Parenthood is an exercise in risk management,” Danielle said.
“Every day, we decide: Are we going to let our kids play football? Are we going to let them do a sleep¬over? Are we going to let them climb a tree? We’re not saying parents should abandon all caution. We’re saying parents should pay attention to risks that are dangerous and likely to happen.
“Abductions are extremely rare. Car accidents are not. The number one cause of death for children of their age is a car accident.”
Following police returning the children to the home, a representative of the CPS arrived at the home and asked Mr Meitiv to sign a pledge that he would not leave his children unsupervised until the following Monday, when the agency would follow up with the family. At first he refused but was told if he did not sign his children would be taken away from him.
Following this, the CPS visited the home again and they have a meeting with CPS scheduled for next week.
