Until the age of 10, I roamed in about a square mile of lakes, woods, creeks and fields. At the age of 10, we moved to a different state and city and my range i

Until the age of 10, I roamed in about a square mile of lakes, woods, creeks and fields. At the age of 10, we moved to a different state and city and my range increased considerably and it was common for me to roam miles away from my home. Granted, my parents just thought we were "in the woods" or "on the bikepath" and probably didn't know the full extent of our travels but they didn't make hard rules as to where we could be, either. The freedom I was given encouraged me to push my boundaries and it expanded my mind. I wouldn't trade those years of exploring woods, swimming in creeks and quarries and observing wildlife for anything. There weren't many other kids who traveled as extensively as my brother and I did. Perhaps more children would be persuaded to put down the iPhone and go outside if they had the freedom to roam as they please. Limiting them to their backyards and next door neighboor's house isn't nearly as enticing as "go roam".