This State Now Has the Country’s First ‘Free-Range’ Parenting Law—Here’s What That Means

Ever since mom and author Lenore Skenazy was vilified for letting her nine-year-old son take the New York subway on his own in 2009, the term “free-range parenting” has been a hot topic with families. On one side of the debate are those who believe that children should be free to explore and move unsupervised, while others worry that letting kids do so is asking for trouble.

But now one state has taken a firm stance in favor of the former. Utah recently became the first state to pass a free-range parenting law. The law changes the state's definition of neglect to allow children of “sufficient age and maturity” to engage in independent activities like walking to and from school, playing in a playground on their own and being left alone in a car.

Under the new law, parents can’t be cited for neglect for letting their kids engage in these types of activities, as long as they are otherwise safe, happy and well cared for. Parents who choose to let their kids undertake these kinds of free-range parenting pursuits in other states, however, could face legal problems (as well as having child-welfare authorities involved, in some cases). 

Does this mean that helicopter parenting is on its way out and free-range parenting will become the new normal? While some other states (like New York and Texas) have said that they may follow Utah’s example, similar legislation failed in Arkansas last year. Meaning it’s not exactly clear what’s going to happen. Watch this space.

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