‘Free-Range’ Parents Let Their Children Roam Unsupervised

As a parent I found this story disturbing:

A couple in Maryland let their 10-year-old and 6-year-old play at the park and then walk a mile home alone.

The parents, Danielle and Alexander, say that they follow a "free-range parenting" philosophy, letting their kids gradually make decisions and gain certain freedoms. Danielle told the Washington Post, "We wouldn't let them do it if we didn't think they were ready."

The couple received a visit from CPS in the fall for letting the kids play in the park alone. After Danielle cited a state statute the investigation was dropped. Then, in December, when Alexander dropped the kids off at the park alone again a neighbor called the 9-1-1. The kids were picked up by a cop and CPS got involved.

The CPS investigation is still ongoing. Danielle and Alexander say they're "being bullied into a point of view about child-rearing that we strongly disagree with."

I understand that teaching our kids to be independent from us is important, but I'm sorry ... 6 and 10 years old is just way too young to be at the park and walking home alone.

Do you agree with "free-range parenting"?