Ohio lawmakers consider bill to promote an independent childhood 

A new law currently under consideration in the Ohio legislature, Senate Bill 277, would grant parents much-needed assurance that they can let their children engage in safe, reasonable activities like walking to the store or playing around the neighborhood without mandating around-the-clock adult supervision. If passed, the Buckeye State would join 11 other states—red, blue, and purple—that have already adopted this type of legislation, commonly called “Reasonable Childhood Independence” laws. 

Parents around the U.S. have had concerning interactions with law enforcement because their kids had engaged in seemingly innocuous activities without direct supervision. Brittany Patterson, a mother from Georgia, was arrested last year after her 10-year-old son ventured to the store alone in her small town of 370 residents while she was at a doctor’s appointment with her other son. A concerned passerby noticed the boy walking alone and contacted the police, which ultimately culminated in her being arrested and handcuffed in front of her kids. Then came a lengthy legal process between Patterson and the authorities. 

A single mother in Pennsylvania, responsible for two children and her 13-year-old brother, faced severe legal consequences when she briefly left her 1-year-old in the young brother’s care to run an errand. Intervention by authorities resulted in the mother’s placement on the state’s child abuse registry, which subsequently made it almost impossible for her to secure employment as a home health aide. 

The constant threat of government intervention has had a significant chilling effect on parents who wish to give their children space to develop through independent activities. Why would someone allow their child to play outside unsupervised—an activity that used to be considered normal and safe—when there is a chance that it could result in punishment? 

Experts are gaining a better understanding of how excessive parental protection negatively impacts both children and families. A study published in The Journal of Pediatrics in 2023 established a causal link between declining childhood independence over several decades and a rise in anxiety and depression among children. One of the authors of that study and professor of developmental psychology at Boston College, Peter Gray, testified before a Pennsylvania committee that the way children develop a robust sense that they can handle challenges is through regular independent opportunities without parents hovering over their every decision. 

But parents must feel comfortable to grant these opportunities for independent activities. At the heart of the issue lies the imprecise and subjective nature of child neglect laws, which allow considerable discretion to law enforcement and social workers to decide what qualifies. Although government safety workers undoubtedly act with what they believe to be the child’s best interests at heart, in most situations, a child’s own parent remains the most suitable judge of what is appropriate. 

This legislative session presents Ohio lawmakers with a crucial chance to tackle this issue head-on. SB 277 aims to remove subjective language and sharpen the definitions of neglect and abuse within Ohio’s current laws. The bill will clearly permit specific activities, such as children walking to and from school or stores, engaging in outdoor play, and remaining home alone for appropriate durations, all while continuing to forbid genuinely harmful neglect or endangerment. This legislation would empower Ohio parents to make sound choices for their children without the fear of inconsistent interpretations of what constitutes appropriate parenting. It would provide them the liberty to foster independence confidently during a vital stage of development. 

This bill would have Ohio join several other states (including Georgia, Florida, and Missouri just last year) in adopting “reasonable childhood independence” laws. Through close partnership with the nonprofit Let Grow, whose president, Lenore Skenazy, writes for Reason magazine, Reason Foundation has promoted this same type of bipartisan law in over 10 states.  

Ohio lawmakers have a chance to send a clear message to parents that they have their back when it comes to nurturing independent and resilient children. The legislature should seize this opportunity to promote childhood independence by passing SB 277. 

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