The issue here in the U.S. was referenced as “free-range” parenting, most notably publicized in a 2015 incident in Silver Springs MD. A Jewish family (redacted) became a subject of public controversy for allowing their 6 and 10 YO children to walk to and from a local park on their own. About halfway through the walk, the children were stopped by the police and driven home after someone reported seeing them abandoned. The encounter led to Montgomery County Child Protective Services (CPS) investigating the family for neglect. On the next encounter, the kids were detained by the police and held for several hours without being allowed to contact their parents. Neither the police nor CPS contacted the children’s parents directly, and they only located their kids later by calling 911. The issue was debated extensively on local media and ultimate resolved by a new Maryland policy clarifying the obligations of parents with regard to oversight of their kids (aka leaving kids alone isOK unless the kids face immediate and real risk of harm based on location and circumstances).
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