Overview

• A Harris Poll survey of 500 children aged 8–12 found unstructured outdoor play outranked adult-led activities and socializing online
• Most participants are restricted from public spaces without an adult and many cannot play unsupervised even in their own front yards
• Nearly three-quarters of kids said they would spend less time online if more neighborhood friends were available for in-person play
• Reasonable Childhood Independence laws in 11 states now protect parents from neglect investigations when allowing children typical unsupervised activities
• In North Carolina, parents faced involuntary manslaughter charges after their unsupervised children were killed, underscoring the legal risks of granting normal childhood freedom