Let Them Run Free

One of the things that delights me is seeing a kid or kids play on their own without any adult supervision. Growing up in Leningrad, I loved hanging out with the kids downstairs playing various childhood games (some including knives...I still can't figure out how we got away with this - you spread out your hand in the sand and then your friend lobs a knife at you, trying to miss your fingers). When we came to America I was also allowed to play alone or with other kids, it was a wonderful way to grow up - learning independence, making choices knowing my parents weren't their to guide to the right one. I'm a big proponent of letting kids play without adults.
This is also one of the reasons I loved being in Israel. There, kids stay out till it's dark, hanging out and playing games. None of the play date stuff applies in Israel. In fact, although I would like my kids to grow up in the suburbs, part of me likes the idea of a city kids playing with a group from the block.
I loved reading this interview, mainly because it justifies my views:

Skenazy suggests that many American parents are in the grips of a national hysteria about child safety, which is fed by sensationalistic media coverage of child abductions, safety tips from alarmist parenting mags, and companies marketing products that promise to protect tykes from every possible danger. She by no means recommends that mom and dad chuck the car seats, but says that trying to fend off every possible risk, however remote, holds its own unfortunate, unintended consequences.

I always thought it was strange, when I was in middle school, that a lot of my peers had never been to Boston (the suburb I grew up in is less than 20 min. away from downtown Boston)because their parents were afraid for them.

Side note: If I recall correctly, my sister, who is 5 years older than me, used to stay home with me alone when she was 7. I believe now days that's child neglect or something.