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Because 50 years ago it was totally normal for 8 year olds to be on their own for a few hours after the school bus dropped them off and for 5 year olds to be su
by cimmanom 8y ago
Because 50 years ago it was totally normal for 8 year olds to be on their own for a few hours after the school bus dropped them off and for 5 year olds to be supervise only by their slightly older siblings. Because 100 years ago it was normal for those 5 year olds to walk home from school on their own and play in the streets until their parents returned. Because we weren’t always as crazy and paranoid about unsupervised children as we are now.
- jrnichols 8y agoThe article notes that it's usually women that drop out of the workforce to stay home with the kids, but it doesn't mention that it's usually women who are the ones being paranoid about unsupervised children. 30 years ago, I think it was the total opposite. My mother (and many others) were fine with the kids coming home by themselves and being latchkey kids. what changed? "Adam" in 1983. I noticed a significant shift in parental behavior after that movie came out. My mother declared that I was no longer allowed to walk home alone after school. Talking with other friends later on in life, they too noted that things changed in the early 80's. One cited the rise of AIDS as a reason his mother wouldn't let him walk home. Another cited the McMartin preschool trial. The fear of random people snatching up and molesting/murdering kids became endemic. Fear had taken over.
- cafard 8y agoAs I always say when this stuff comes up: 50 years ago, there were more mothers at home during the day, resulting in a sort of intermittent yet steady surveillance.