Under archaic laws and evolving cultural norms, simple activities for kids like playing outside, walking a sibling to school, or being home alone after school are sometimes treated as child neglect or child endangerment. Merely allowing a child to be outside of constant supervision by an adult has led to frivolous child protection investigations, traumatizing children and families, as well as contributing to a climate of fear in our communities. Even when children are well-cared for and are engaging in activities that not long ago were considered healthy and commonplace—part of what it means to be a kid—today’s parents oftentimes are afraid to let their kids have ordinary freedoms to play and grow as they once enjoyed themselves.

For this reason, we plan to introduce legislation that would permit children to engage in independent activities, within reason, without the potential for parents to be charged with neglect or child endangerment. The bill establishes commonsense protections that provide families across the state the option to let their children engage in normal behaviors, such as traveling to and from school, including walking, running, or bicycling; engaging in outdoor play; and being home alone for a reasonable amount of time. It is well past time to clarify that it is legal, not abuse or neglect, for children to engage in ordinary childhood activities. 

Eleven red and blue states (Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Utah) have already passed these protections. Please join us in sponsoring this legislation to legalize reasonable independence for children, conserve state resources for when they are truly needed, and set up our children and families for success.