In the US at least, there are very few places where a 7 year old could walk to school. The town I grew up in the elementary school was ~20 minutes away by car

In the US at least, there are very few places where a 7 year old could walk to school. The town I grew up in the elementary school was ~20 minutes away by car for example. "Kids these days" as a whole tend to be more self sufficient (as a result of more dual working households etc); not less.