50 sats \ 5 replies \ @Bell_curve 10 Apr \ parent \ on: Japan is so child-friendly earth
It is crazy that Tokyo is so safe that little children ride the subway without adult supervision.
I think Paris was similar 30 years ago.
The thing is, most of America is incredibly safe, too. We've become an irrationally fearful nation. There's basically no chance of a kid getting abducted by a stranger.
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During the 1980s and 90s so many TV movies about child abduction. Based on a true story!
Not trying to trivialize real tragedy
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As a parent, I certainly understand the appeal of "better safe than sorry", but kids do need those experiences of independence in order to become functional adults.
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There was that woman who wrote about letting her child ride the subway in NY.
Reason also interviewed her.
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Steven Levitt has also talked about encouraging his daughter to learn how to walk to school and back on her own.
My biggest concern with doing anything like that is getting reported to the state and charged with negligence. Many states have essentially criminalized childhood and even where they haven't, you never know how a particular state agent is going to act.
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