These aren't real numbers. But as someone over a certain age, I always say that during my childhood, you had about a 99.99 chance of surviving it to adulthood

These aren't real numbers. But as someone over a certain age, I always say that during my childhood, you had about a 99.99 chance of surviving it to adulthood (discounting unpreventable causes such as inherited defects). And I know of at least one child who did perish in an incident which back then was a mere tragedy, but might today be considered criminal negligence (lack of supervision) by adults. I believe that today's society, at least in North America, has added at least one nine to this statistic. Wonderful! For every 100,000 kids born, nine deaths prevented. That's a measurable success. But the reduction in "childhood experience" - the free roaming - for example, when as kids we received - and this dates me - our first 3-channel CB walkie talkies, with all their glorious 100mW of transmit power, 3 channel switch but only one set of crystals installed (channel 14) - it was completely natural that we'd fan out all over the countryside, testing the range - including a relay on a hilltop when we found that schoolmates had compatible walkie-talkies too. But more seriously. Kids that can socialize unsupervised learn by experience how social structures are established, how to act responsibly and the consequences of not doing so and so forth, and also that the majority of people are good, nice folks who'll let you use your phone or have a glass of water or whatever. Now, instead, it's drilled into them that the world is a bad place and safety is at home with your gadgets.