Should government fence in 'free-range' parents?

Child Protective Services (CPS) found a Maryland couple responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect last week for letting their children, ages 10 and 6, walk home from a park alone.

The parents, Alexander and Danielle Meitiv, are advocates of “free-range parenting,” a movement that encourages parents to allow more independence and self-reliance in children. They say they are horrified by the ruling, which came after a two-month investigation by the Montgomery County CPS into the Dec. 20 event.

“We don’t feel it was appropriate for an investigation to start, much less conclude that we are responsible for some form of child neglect,” Danielle Meitiv told The Washington Post.

Police stopped 10-year-old Rafi and 6-year-old Dvora halfway through a one-mile walk from a local park to their Silver Springs, Md., home. The Meitivs say they had prepared their children for the walk, starting with walks around the block, then to a local 7-Eleven, and lately to the public library three-quarters of a mile away. When alone, Rafi and Dvora usually wear laminated cards that read, “I am not lost. I am a free-range kid!” and provide their parents names and a phone number. Neither child was wearing the card when police stopped them.

Maryland law is ambiguous about children walking alone. Under state law, a child under 8 years old cannot be left alone in a car or a home without a caretaker who is 13 or older. The law does not address parks or sidewalks.

Police accompanied the children to their home and spoke with Alexander Meitiv. A few hours later, CPS arrived. Alexander told the Post a CPS worker required him to sign a statement pledging he would not leave his children unsupervised until the following Monday, when the CPS office would follow up. When he said he would prefer to speak with his attorney first, the worker said CPS would take his children if he did not sign.

Last week’s decision of “unsubstantiated” child neglect means CPS will keep a file on the Meitivs for five years. An “unsubstantiated” ruling means CPS found insufficient information for a more definite “indicated” child neglect ruling, according to Paula Tolson, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Human Resources.

The case has spurred a storm of news and blog activity surrounding the merits and dangers of the “free-range parenting” movement. Lenore Skenazy, a New York City journalist and mom, launched the movement in 2008 with a controversial editorial in the New York Sun about why she let her 9-year-old ride the subway alone. Skenazy now has a book, a blog, and a TV show. But critics of the movement argue “free-range” parents are carelessly putting their children in life-endangering situations.

Danielle Meitiv said she was calculated with her children and does not regret their decision.

“Parenthood is an exercise in risk managements,” she told the Post. “Every day, we decide: Are we going to let our kids play football? Are we going to let them do a sleepover? 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.”

The Meitivs say they will appeal the CPS ruling.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.