"So we had a strict rule that the kids weren't allowed out the front door without an adult. They're 9 and 11 years old, so I know this sounds like overkill. But there wasn't a porch or much of a front yard space, and the road had no sidewalks. In the time we lived there, a car once lost control and crashed into our front yard. Even normal traffic went at 50 mph."
"We moved before school started this year. Our new house is in a small development with sidewalks and slow traffic. It's close to a commercial street, where there's a public library, some stores, and a park. We want our kids to have more independence now that they can walk around safely. We explicitly told them when we moved that we were excited that they could safely do more on their own here."
Parents enforced strict outdoor limits at a previous home because the house faced heavy traffic, lacked sidewalks, and a car once crashed into the front yard. The children, ages nine and eleven, played in a safe backyard instead of using the front yard. The family moved to a small development with sidewalks, slower traffic, nearby stores, a library, and a park. Parents communicated that children could now have more independence and play in the front yard. A central bus stop and a neighbor who watches provide additional safety, but both children still feel fearful about walking short distances alone.
Read at Slate Magazine
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