We’ve all seen helicopter parents. Maybe you are one. They’re the folks who won’t let their kids step more than five feet from them without hovering. They’re fearful of letting their kids make mistakes, fall down, get their feelings hurt. It’s a societal trend, unfortunately. And along with the trend comes government authorities who don’t hesitate to investigate parents that others claim aren’t adequately protecting their kids. No, I’m not saying we should turn a blind eye to child neglect. What I’m saying is that the folks in Utah have the right idea about letting kids be kids without fear of government intervention.
So-called free-range parenting will soon be the law of the land in Utah after the governor signed what appears to be the country’s first measure to formally legalize allowing kids to do things on their own to foster self-sufficiency.
The bill, which Gov. Gary Herbert announced Friday that he’d signed, specifies that it isn’t neglectful to let kids do things alone like travel to school, explore a playground or stay in the car. The law takes effect May 8.
Since it seems common sense is at times in short supply, the so-called free-range kids law makes sense — even though it shouldn’t be necessary. Coming to North Carolina in the future?
